Willie Mason
Encyclopedia
William Marshall "Willie" Mason (born 15 April 1980 in Auckland
, New Zealand
) is an Australia
n professional rugby union
footballer for Toulon
in the Top 14 competition, having previously being a rugby league
footballer for Hull KR
in the European Super League
.
Mason signed a 3-year contract with Hull KR in September 2010, pending a successful working visa application.
An Australia and Tonga
international and New South Wales
State of Origin representative forward, he previously played for the Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership and Clive Churchill Medal
, as well as the Sydney Roosters
.
He is also eligible to represent the United States national rugby league team
and the Samoa national rugby league team
.
and played junior rugby league for the Toronto (Macquarie) Scorpions in the Newcastle Knights
junior competition. as well as Lakes United. He played in the junior ranks of the Hunter Mariners
during their only season in 1997.
and mid-season received an opportunity to make his debut in the National Rugby League
following an injury to first-grader Darren Britt
. Mason made his debut on the 30th of April during the 2000 season
against the Penrith Panthers
. He impressed early and became a regular member of the NRL team for the rest of the season.
In late 2000, Mason represented Tonga
, the country of origin of his mother, in the Rugby League World Cup
played in Great Britain and Ireland.
Mason cemented a starting position at the Dogs during the 2001 season
but was involved in the 2002 Bulldogs salary cap dramas. In mid-2002, the Bulldogs were found guilty of serious and systemic breaches of the salary cap. The club was stripped of all 37 competition points. The latter action was particularly harmful, as the club were poised to take the Minor Premiership and had won 17 consecutive matches (the second highest in Australian club rugby league history at the time). Mason therefore missed out on the opportunity to take a Minor-Premiership and quite realistically a shot at the 2002 Grand Final. On a positive note during the year Mason was selected to make his debut for Australia against Great Britain
, scoring a try. Since then Mason has played a total of 29 Tests for his country and was at one point the Bulldogs' most-capped current test player.
In 2003 Mason's consistent performance was rewarded as he made his debut for New South Wales
in Game 3 of the 2003 State of Origin Series
. After the 2003 Kangaroo tour
Mason suffered a fractured ankle during Australia's 36–24 win over USA in an international rugby league friendly match at Philadelphia's Franklin Field in December 2004.
The next season the Dogs reached the 2004 Grand Final
and Willie Mason experienced Grand Final glory as the Dogs triumphed 16–13 over the Sydney Roosters
. Mason was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal
for Man of the Match. He went on to ply in the 2004 Tri-Nations
tournament.
Mason was out of action during the first half of the 2005 season and did not play in the NRL until Round 18 where the Bulldogs were experiencing a Grand-Final hangover and already stuck in the bottom-eight of the competition. He played in the 2005 Tri-nations tournament.
In 2006, Willie returned to become a regular member of the Bulldogs team where he managed to play 20 club matches, all three Origin games for NSW – in which he was named Man of the Match in the opening game and three Tests for Australia in the Tri-Nations series. He was a firm figure in the clubs return to finals football as the Bulldogs finished second on the ladder, the Dogs were beaten by eventual Premiers the Brisbane Broncos
one game shy of the Grand Final.
Mason was televised appearing to swear during the New Zealand haka
, before game 1 of the 2006 Gillette Tri-nations Series
. Later in the match Mason suffered a swollen black eye and suspected broken eye socket after a headknock by David Kidwell
. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/856605 Mason explained that his swearing was in response to the traditional Māori dance being performed by Brent Webb
, an Indigenous Australian of Torres Strait Islander origin who became a New Zealand citizen.
Mason was banned for one game and fined $5,000 following an altercation with Stuart Fielden
during Great Britain's defeat of Australia in November 2006.
In 2007, Mason was selected for all three Origin games for NSW and represented Australia in the ANZAC Test match.
At the conclusion of the 2007 NRL season, the media began reporting that Mason was unhappy at the Bulldogs. On 31 October 2007 The Daily Telegraph
reported that Mason wanted to leave the Bulldogs after an altercation with the club's CEO, Malcolm Noad. A day later it was reported that Mason was to be released from the final two years of his contract after the club rejected his chance to fight in a professional boxing match worth up to 100,000 and because the club claimed to be fining Mason $50,000 for failure to attend an end of season function, although this was denied by the Bulldogs.
Speculation that Mason was to be released from his contract led to a number of English and Australian clubs confirming they were seeking to sign Mason to a contract for the 2008 season.
to the Gold Coast Titans and considered releasing other players, the club was able to make an offer for Mason. On 15 November 2007 it was confirmed that Mason had signed a three-year deal with the Eastern Suburbs based club. The Roosters
dominated through the regular season finishing in 4th spot and in August 2008 Mason was named in both the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
and the Tonga training squad. However in the final regular game of the season Mason ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and took no part in the Roosters Finals Campaign.
Mason missed the Roosters first game of the 2009 season after they were trashed by South Sydney Rabbitohs
52–12. Mason returned in Round 2, against the Canberra Raiders
they were victors 30–4. As the season contuined the Roosters and Mason season got worst. Mason was caught urinating in public and was also dropped to the Newtown Jets
. The Roosters finished the year in last spot. When Brian Smith
took over the coaching role at the Roosters he told Mason he was not in his future plans at the Roosters and his services were no long needed there.
Interest in Mason was said to be high with a number of high profile rugby union and rugby league clubs chasing Mason's signature, Japanese Rugby Union teams, French Super League team Catalans Dragons
and the Queensland Reds
were just some of the clubs after Mason. Mason is likely to joing Catalans next year after Gregory Bird recently left the Catalans returning to the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans freeing up money to secure the giant Mason.
Welsh super league club, Crusaders were next to show interest in signing Mason. He was given extended leave from the Roosters to find a new club.
He is set to join the Melbourne Storm
on a two year deal. There were also some rumours he was going to join the Newcastle Knights
late in the year, but the Knights denied any relation to him.
The Storm have denied that they have signed Mason.
The North Queensland Cowboys
made a late play for Willie Mason and held talks with him on the 2 February 2010
If the Cowboys had rejected Mason the Newcastle Knights
were poised to make a deal with him as they had lost prop Danny Wicks
On the same day that Lote Tuqiri announced that he would be returning to the NRL it was announced that Willie Mason had signed a one year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.
(NFL), a childhood dream. He was said to be courted by several teams, including the Oakland Raiders
and San Francisco 49ers
. In July it was confirmed the New York Giants
had offered him the opportunity to trial with them after the Rugby League Tri-Nations series finished in November. However, the Canterbury club had dismissed the deal, and Mason remained with the club beyond 2006.
In December 2006 Mason took part in a trial with the New York Jets
, but still maintained he would fulfil his contract with the Bulldogs until the end of the 2009 season. Mason said "I'm probably at the time in my career now where maybe it is time for a change. New York City is the capital of the world. I'm pretty sure I could settle in there if given the opportunity,..."http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/2006/12/08/1165081148239.html. However a Jets representative stated that Mason even being offered a contract was very unlikely, "I don't think they were even football drills, it was more of a visit. We just had a look at him and that is where we left it." The Jets coach Eric Mangini
was impressed with Mason, saying "Willie is a guy that came to our attention, he is a pretty good rugby player, and it was just one of those opportunities we had, where we have to take a look at him. What we're doing is taking a look at him, seeing what potential there is for him. He seems to have been a pretty dynamic guy in that league for a long time. He seemed relatively feisty when I spoke to him."
The Bulldogs never anticipated any move, saying "Willie has given us his guarantee he will be with us." http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20892228-23214,00.html
and raised in Australia
, Mason is of Tonga
n, Samoan
and African American
descent. He has a younger brother named Rodney who also plays rugby league with the Newcastle Knights Under 20s.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer for Toulon
RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
in the Top 14 competition, having previously being a rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
.
Mason signed a 3-year contract with Hull KR in September 2010, pending a successful working visa application.
An Australia and Tonga
Tonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
international and New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
State of Origin representative forward, he previously played for the Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership and Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
, as well as the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
.
He is also eligible to represent the United States national rugby league team
United States national rugby league team
-2008 & 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying:In October 2006, The Tomahawks were to participate in a four team Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but South Africa and the West Indies withdrew. As a result, The Atlantic qualifying pool was reduced to a single game...
and the Samoa national rugby league team
Samoa national rugby league team
-Notable Players & Coaches:* John Ackland * Steve Kaiser Coach 1990 - 1994* Steve Kaiser 1986* Afi Ah Koui 1986* Andrew Ah Koui 1986* George Apelu 1986* Fa'ausu Afoa circa-1995* Wing Afoa 1990 - 1994* Isaak Ah Mau circa-2006...
.
Biography
Willie Mason grew up in Toronto, New South WalesToronto, New South Wales
Toronto is a town within the city of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia, approximately from Newcastle's central business district and is a commercial hub for the sprawling suburbs on the western shore of the lake.-History:...
and played junior rugby league for the Toronto (Macquarie) Scorpions in the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
junior competition. as well as Lakes United. He played in the junior ranks of the Hunter Mariners
Hunter Mariners
The Hunter Mariners were an Australian rugby league club based in the Hunter Valley region's largest city, Newcastle. Hunter was formed in mid 1995 and was later disbanded at the end of 1997. The club was formed because of the Super League war, which was the rivalry between the traditional...
during their only season in 1997.
Bulldogs
Mason joined the Canterbury Bulldogs at 19 years of age in 1998 and played in the junior U-18 Jersey Flegg competition. After a year with the club Mason was again a regular member of the Flegg team in 1999 but unfortunately suffered a leg fracture in the game before the Bulldogs' Flegg Grand Final win. The following year, Mason moved into the NSWRL Premier LeagueNSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
and mid-season received an opportunity to make his debut in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
following an injury to first-grader Darren Britt
Darren Britt
Darren Britt is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Canterbury Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition....
. Mason made his debut on the 30th of April during the 2000 season
National Rugby League season 2000
The 2000 NRL season was the 93rd season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the third to be run by the National Rugby League...
against the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
. He impressed early and became a regular member of the NRL team for the rest of the season.
In late 2000, Mason represented Tonga
Tonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
, the country of origin of his mother, in the Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
played in Great Britain and Ireland.
Mason cemented a starting position at the Dogs during the 2001 season
National Rugby League season 2001
The 2001 NRL season was the 94th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fourth run by the National Rugby League. The Newcastle Knights claimed their second premiership in five seasons, defeating minor premiers Parramatta Eels in the first ever night-time grand...
but was involved in the 2002 Bulldogs salary cap dramas. In mid-2002, the Bulldogs were found guilty of serious and systemic breaches of the salary cap. The club was stripped of all 37 competition points. The latter action was particularly harmful, as the club were poised to take the Minor Premiership and had won 17 consecutive matches (the second highest in Australian club rugby league history at the time). Mason therefore missed out on the opportunity to take a Minor-Premiership and quite realistically a shot at the 2002 Grand Final. On a positive note during the year Mason was selected to make his debut for Australia against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, scoring a try. Since then Mason has played a total of 29 Tests for his country and was at one point the Bulldogs' most-capped current test player.
In 2003 Mason's consistent performance was rewarded as he made his debut for New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in Game 3 of the 2003 State of Origin Series
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
. After the 2003 Kangaroo tour
2003 Kangaroo Tour
The 2003 Kangaroo Tour was a six-match tour by the Australia national rugby league team of France, Wales and England. The last three matches were all Tests against Great Britain...
Mason suffered a fractured ankle during Australia's 36–24 win over USA in an international rugby league friendly match at Philadelphia's Franklin Field in December 2004.
The next season the Dogs reached the 2004 Grand Final
National Rugby League season 2004
The year 2004 NRL season was the 97th season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the seventh run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen clubs competed for the Telstra Premiership...
and Willie Mason experienced Grand Final glory as the Dogs triumphed 16–13 over the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. Mason was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
for Man of the Match. He went on to ply in the 2004 Tri-Nations
Rugby League Tri-Nations
The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...
tournament.
Mason was out of action during the first half of the 2005 season and did not play in the NRL until Round 18 where the Bulldogs were experiencing a Grand-Final hangover and already stuck in the bottom-eight of the competition. He played in the 2005 Tri-nations tournament.
In 2006, Willie returned to become a regular member of the Bulldogs team where he managed to play 20 club matches, all three Origin games for NSW – in which he was named Man of the Match in the opening game and three Tests for Australia in the Tri-Nations series. He was a firm figure in the clubs return to finals football as the Bulldogs finished second on the ladder, the Dogs were beaten by eventual Premiers the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
one game shy of the Grand Final.
Mason was televised appearing to swear during the New Zealand haka
Haka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
, before game 1 of the 2006 Gillette Tri-nations Series
2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations
The 2006 Rugby League Tri-Nations was hosted for the second time by Australia and New Zealand. Sponsored by Gillette the tournament followed the same format as in 2004 and 2005, with each team meeting the other two teams twice, and the top two teams at the end of the group stages proceeding to the...
. Later in the match Mason suffered a swollen black eye and suspected broken eye socket after a headknock by David Kidwell
David Kidwell
David Kidwell is a retired professional rugby league footballer who represented his country. Kidwell was a member of the 2005 Tri-Nations and 2008 World Cup winning New Zealand teams, which defeated Australia in both competitions' respective finals...
. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/856605 Mason explained that his swearing was in response to the traditional Māori dance being performed by Brent Webb
Brent Webb
Brent Webb is an Australian-born New Zealand rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Leeds in the Super League. Webb plays as a full-back and is a former New Zealand international.-Early years:...
, an Indigenous Australian of Torres Strait Islander origin who became a New Zealand citizen.
Mason was banned for one game and fined $5,000 following an altercation with Stuart Fielden
Stuart Fielden
Stuart Fielden is an English professional rugby league footballer for Wigan of Super League...
during Great Britain's defeat of Australia in November 2006.
In 2007, Mason was selected for all three Origin games for NSW and represented Australia in the ANZAC Test match.
At the conclusion of the 2007 NRL season, the media began reporting that Mason was unhappy at the Bulldogs. On 31 October 2007 The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
reported that Mason wanted to leave the Bulldogs after an altercation with the club's CEO, Malcolm Noad. A day later it was reported that Mason was to be released from the final two years of his contract after the club rejected his chance to fight in a professional boxing match worth up to 100,000 and because the club claimed to be fining Mason $50,000 for failure to attend an end of season function, although this was denied by the Bulldogs.
Speculation that Mason was to be released from his contract led to a number of English and Australian clubs confirming they were seeking to sign Mason to a contract for the 2008 season.
Sydney Roosters
After the Roosters were able to release back-rower Ashley HarrisonAshley Harrison
Ashley Harrison is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the NRL...
to the Gold Coast Titans and considered releasing other players, the club was able to make an offer for Mason. On 15 November 2007 it was confirmed that Mason had signed a three-year deal with the Eastern Suburbs based club. The Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
dominated through the regular season finishing in 4th spot and in August 2008 Mason was named in both the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
and the Tonga training squad. However in the final regular game of the season Mason ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and took no part in the Roosters Finals Campaign.
Mason missed the Roosters first game of the 2009 season after they were trashed by South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
52–12. Mason returned in Round 2, against the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
they were victors 30–4. As the season contuined the Roosters and Mason season got worst. Mason was caught urinating in public and was also dropped to the Newtown Jets
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
. The Roosters finished the year in last spot. When Brian Smith
Brian Smith (rugby league)
Brian Smith is an Australian coach and former player of rugby league football. He is the current head coach at the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. Smith played for St. George and South Sydney Rabbitohs , appearing in a total of 31 first grade games...
took over the coaching role at the Roosters he told Mason he was not in his future plans at the Roosters and his services were no long needed there.
Interest in Mason was said to be high with a number of high profile rugby union and rugby league clubs chasing Mason's signature, Japanese Rugby Union teams, French Super League team Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
and the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
were just some of the clubs after Mason. Mason is likely to joing Catalans next year after Gregory Bird recently left the Catalans returning to the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans freeing up money to secure the giant Mason.
Welsh super league club, Crusaders were next to show interest in signing Mason. He was given extended leave from the Roosters to find a new club.
He is set to join the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
on a two year deal. There were also some rumours he was going to join the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
late in the year, but the Knights denied any relation to him.
The Storm have denied that they have signed Mason.
The North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
made a late play for Willie Mason and held talks with him on the 2 February 2010
If the Cowboys had rejected Mason the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
were poised to make a deal with him as they had lost prop Danny Wicks
Danny Wicks
Danny Wicks is a former professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League competition. Wicks also previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons...
On the same day that Lote Tuqiri announced that he would be returning to the NRL it was announced that Willie Mason had signed a one year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.
North Queensland Cowboys
On February 5, 2010, Mason agreed to a one-year contract with the North Queensland Cowboys. He made his Cowboys debut off the bench in a thrilling 30–24 loss to the Broncos in Round 1, 2010.NFL Prospects
In June 2006, news speculation surfaced that Mason was considering joining the United States' National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL), a childhood dream. He was said to be courted by several teams, including the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. In July it was confirmed the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
had offered him the opportunity to trial with them after the Rugby League Tri-Nations series finished in November. However, the Canterbury club had dismissed the deal, and Mason remained with the club beyond 2006.
In December 2006 Mason took part in a trial with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but still maintained he would fulfil his contract with the Bulldogs until the end of the 2009 season. Mason said "I'm probably at the time in my career now where maybe it is time for a change. New York City is the capital of the world. I'm pretty sure I could settle in there if given the opportunity,..."http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/leaving-on-a-jet-plane/2006/12/08/1165081148239.html. However a Jets representative stated that Mason even being offered a contract was very unlikely, "I don't think they were even football drills, it was more of a visit. We just had a look at him and that is where we left it." The Jets coach Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets of the National Football League and current NFL analyst for ESPN.-College:...
was impressed with Mason, saying "Willie is a guy that came to our attention, he is a pretty good rugby player, and it was just one of those opportunities we had, where we have to take a look at him. What we're doing is taking a look at him, seeing what potential there is for him. He seems to have been a pretty dynamic guy in that league for a long time. He seemed relatively feisty when I spoke to him."
The Bulldogs never anticipated any move, saying "Willie has given us his guarantee he will be with us." http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20892228-23214,00.html
Controversy
Willie Mason has been associated with many controversial off-field incidents which have received media publicity due to his high-profile in the National Rugby League.- In 2002, Mason is reported to have run from a taxi to avoid paying the fare.
- In 2003, he tested positive to an illicit social drug, reported to be an amphetamineAmphetamineAmphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
, and was fined $25,000 by his club. Mason has never commented on the issue publicly. - In 2004, Mason along with Trent WaterhouseTrent WaterhouseTrent Waterhouse is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League . He has also represented City Origin, New South Wales and Australia...
, Craig WingCraig WingCraig Wing is an Australian rugby union player. He currently plays rugby union in Japan. A former rugby league player for New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international utility player, Wing played for South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters.-South Sydney Rabbitohs:Craig Wing was a...
, Craig GowerCraig GowerCraig Gower is an Australian-Italian professional rugby footballer. He is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia, and rugby union for Italy...
and Mark O'MeleyMark O'MeleyMark O'Meley is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the European Super League team, Hull, and previously of the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. He also previously played for the North Sydney Bears, the ill fated Northern Eagles and the Bulldogs...
, were fined for unprofessional behaviour and for leaving the team hotel after the side had returned from the night out. Mason forged another player's signature at an autograph event, and after a heavy drinking session with team mates, reportedly visited a brothelBrothelBrothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
.
- At Sydney AirportSydney AirportSydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
in 2007, Mason verbally challenged a female reporter from radio station 2GB2GB2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
, resulting in a complaint from 2GB to the Bulldogs club and the ARLAustralian Rugby LeagueThe Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
Mason later admitted to the outburst, which was captured on audio recordings, and apologised to 2GB journalist Michelle Keighran. Mason is sponsored by sportswearSportswearSportswear or activewear is clothing, including footwear, worn for sport or physical exercise. Sport-specific clothing is worn for most sports and physical exercise, for practical, comfort or safety reasons....
manufacturer, ChampionChampion (sportswear)Champion is a manufacturer of clothing, specializing in sportswear. The brand is a subsidiary of HanesBrands Inc. , which was spun off by the Sara Lee Corporation....
, which almost severed its contract with the controversial footballer as a result of the incident.
- Also in 2007, Mason was involved in a nightclub altercation with the out-spoken Richie WilliamsRichard Williams (rugby league)Richard "Richie" Williams , is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. He previously played for the Penrith Panthers and the St. George Illawarra Dragons...
, who Mason claimed shows no respect to the older players in the NRL and is a cocky kid who has yet to prove himself in the NRL. Mason was voted the most hated player by a fans poll in 2007.
- In February 2008 Mason and his new Roosters team-mate Anthony TupouAnthony TupouAnthony Tupou is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks of the National Rugby League...
were charged with urinating in a public place during a visit to Port Macquarie. - In May 2009 Mason was fined $2000 by Sydney RoostersSydney RoostersThe Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
after being photographed urinating in a public place.
Personal
Born in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and raised in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Mason is of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n, Samoan
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
and African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
descent. He has a younger brother named Rodney who also plays rugby league with the Newcastle Knights Under 20s.