Finch says Mason can make amends at Melbourne

Melbourne five-eighth Brett Finch has told his troubled best mate Willie Mason that playing at the Storm can make him a better person as well as a better player.

Finch joined Melbourne mid-season this year from Parramatta, who his new side beat in the grand final to claim his first ever NRL premiership.

Although he has one year remaining on his contract, former Test representative Mason has been granted leave from Roosters pre-season training until January and is seeking a new club.

The 29-year-old has had disciplinary issues in the past and struggled for form in 2009.

Mason is tipped to play rugby in Japan, however he has also been linked to Melbourne despite chief executive Brian Waldron claiming they have no room to move in the salary cap.

Finch said on Monday that Mason, who he played with as a Newcastle junior, could find redemption at the Storm.

“He’s got a couple of other options there … but I mentioned what it (moving to Melbourne) has done for me,” Finch said.

“Not only does the club make you a better player, it makes you a better person as well.

“I’ve said it’s a great club and if Japan doesn’t come through or you’re looking at staying in the NRL there’s no better place than the Storm.

“Being a close mate he knows what I went through last year and how happy I am to be part of club.”

Finch said his long awaited premiership, which came after two losing grand finals with the Sydney Roosters, had given him a “new lease of life”.

“The monkey’s off the back now and I can just enjoy the back-end of my footy,” he said.

“As you get older and you’re kicking off the season and you haven’t achieved it you sort of think it might not come so I’m extremely lucky to be a part of the Storm.”

Meanwhile, new recruit Todd Lowrie had his first training session with the club after his switch from Parramatta, embarking on a time-trial run.

Despite following in the footsteps of Finch with his Melbourne move, Lowrie said he hadn’t been able to source much information from him as the five-eighth had spent most of the off-season overseas.

Lowrie said he had initially hoped to continue with the Eels, but was now “over the moon” to be with the Storm.

“It was forced upon me and I didn’t really have much say in it but that’s the way footy is,” Lowrie said.

With representative lock Dallas Johnson surprisingly quitting to join French Super League club Catalans, a starting position has opened up for the 26-year-old.

“I don’t think anyone was aware that Dallas was leaving and that wasn’t the reason I came,” he said.

“I thought I could back myself and get a start somewhere but with Dallas leaving it does mean there’s one less bloke there, but I certainly don’t think I just deserve the spot, there’s a lot of good young players here and I’m going to have to earn it.”

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