Willie Mason’s long search for a club has won the ‘drawn out saga of the off-season’ award pretty comfortably. But it seems to be pretty unique by modern sporting standards.
We all like to talk about about clubs having a ‘No Dickhead’ policy, but when a dickhead with particular talent is out there, there is usually someone willing to snap them up pretty quickly.
The bloke in question quickly says he’s keen to prove the doubters wrong and show his appreciation with some tee-total gut busting performances. And the club talks about how everyone deserves a second chance and how the contract is filled with behavioural clauses.
But Mason seems to be a completely different case, and being such, has become perhaps the best education programme for young players there is.
The lesson is, stuff up and you won’t get a game.
Mason hasn’t been convicted of anything worse than many of the players going around happily with their clubs. But years of headlines seem to have caught up with the big man.
There was the controversy over a drugs test at the Bulldogs and he has been hit with a public urination fine. But after that, it has been little more than rumours.
You’d have to think that, given he now seems to be rugby league’s version of the black plague, there may be something more to those rumours as clubs and other players all seem to have more of a clue than the public or journos (and Mason has been the feature or more than one piece about a fresh start).
To put it in perspective, Mason is available for just $80,000, given the Roosters will be forced to pay the remainder of his $450,000 yearly salary. For that, you get an international, a premiership winner, and a Clive Churchill medalist, all for the amount of your fringe full time squad members.
But until yesterday, there were no real takers.
You do wonder how big the smile was on Steve Folkes’ face after he attempted to get a deal with the Tigers. The player who ‘wrote’ in The Australian that he had learnt nothing under Folkes was now going cap in hand to every club going.
Even Japanese rugby, which supposedly has the cash to consume rugby league, didn’t want to scrap the Yen together to put Mason’s frame in a capsule hotel.
The final twist was a bidding war between Newcastle and North Queensland, but all the protagonists in this drama resembled young men at 3am, when the lights have gone on at the nightclub and they are racing around and propositioning every woman left in the place.
Maybe his new club, the Cowboys, would have been better off just getting a kebab.
Springs
Roar Guru
I really don't think the Cowboys should be too worried about the Fury...
Bradley A Smith
Roar Rookie
yeah, take your point, and civil war is probably too strong a term for it but there would be some stress felt by the Cowboys at a new club entering the battle over local sponsorship dollars and the attention of fans and media even if they do play in alternating seasons.
Mick from Giralang
Guest
League is engaged in a civil war with soccer? They don't even play in the same seasons...
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Probably the only trophy we'll win for a while..:(
Mick from Giralang
Guest
Hansie: And what about the headline story that ran for days that he was about to be snapped up by the NFL? Even the GWS in oz rules didn't make him an offer --- talk about hit rock bottom!
Tinnie
Roar Rookie
Totally agree Steve, he never lived upto the hype (even in the early days). In essence he "Sonny Billed" himself, i'm sure alot of the egotestical nonsence of late came from his manager as Hansie suggested, but in the end he only had himself to blame. A man his size should have been steam rolling over people his entire career. Imagine if he had the heart and courage of a Gary Larson or a Webke....the man would be unstoppable! But unfortunately he's not that kind of player.
Tinnie
Roar Rookie
Hang on a minute Dogz! I thought Canberra were the premier reform team in the comp? :)
Steve Kaless
Guest
I tend to agree with that what you have been saying there Tinnie. Mason has always been the pantomine villian and others blokes like Arana Taumata, who have had far more worse shockers, haven't nearly received the same treatment. However, as Hanise pointed out, part of this was his big noting of his ability to get other contracts in the first place.
Steve Kaless
Guest
Five star response. Couldn't agree more.
Jay
Guest
Souths pack is better.. but overall cowboys look good on paper. add to what you all ready mentioned JT, Bowen, Williams and Tonga.. half decent side, but dont think they will be top 4 this year.
Bradley A Smith
Roar Rookie
The cynic in me says this could be a football recruitment decision driven by the marketing department, especially as the code is now engaged in a civil war with another code, the A-League, and there will be plenty of state wide attention in Qld for the entry of the new Gold Coast AFL franchise over the course of 2010. Not that the Cowboys traditionally have trouble filling their home ground, but it can't hurt to ensure bums on seats by getting fans excited with a big name signing that costs very little, even if he is past his use by date on field and is seen as a bit of a risk off it.
Tinnie
Roar Rookie
You know what as much as i dislike the guy, i actually starting to feel a little sorry for Willie, because in a way he's really become a scapegoat for an entire sport. While the incidents he's been involved in are far too frequent for my liking, most of them are petty misdeamours resulting from a stupid night on the booze. It's the hipocrisy of the NRL and the media that annoys me, the fact they choose to immortalise one player, while crucifying another. Wendell Sailer - Has had a couple of nightclub instances in his time, beat up a truck driver in a roadrage incident, switched codes recieving a free ticket into the Wallabies along the way, tested positive to cocaine resulting in a 2 year ban, after a very ordinary RU career he returns to the NRL and gets a heroes farewell season at the dragons and a position at channel nine to boot. Brett Steward - The morning after an end of year function for the Manly Sea Eagles Steward is arrested for sexual assault of a 17yo female, he is later charged. Despite this Manly refuse to discipline Steward and his eventual suspension (4 weeks, disgraceful isnt it?) only comes to fruition due to pressure from David Gallop. The first 4 rounds of the season are awful from the former premiers failing to win a single game, Steward returns in round five and scores 3 tries to secure thier first win of the season. The crowds cheered him, the media praised him, i however was just plainly digusted to see him even on that field. Anthony Watmough - The same night as the Steward incident, he assualts a sponser who approached Watmough in regards to indecent behaviour towards his daughter. Watmough is not charged and recieves a slap on the wrist fine from the club. Tod Carney - Enough alcohol fuelled incidents involving police to fill up a skip bin this fella. If Big Willie has been dropped for being a dickhead, i'd like to see the reason for giving Carney another chance. I dont think he's a liability as much as he's just a complete knucklehead prone to do stupid things. No way is Mason in the same league as the Julian O'Niells and the John Hopoates, but at times i think he's judged just as harshly as these guys. I've stuck up for you Willie, so dont bollox it up at the Cowboy this season big fella :)
Realist
Roar Pro
I was there last year. I'll be there again this year.
Realist
Roar Pro
As a Cowboys supporter, I'm glad Willie chose us over the Knights!
Realist
Roar Pro
Greg Bird didn't go to the Cowboys. Nor did Hopoate.
The man
Guest
Given the after effects of the majority of kebabs consumed in the wee hours - the Cowboys are definitely better off with Mason. Bargain basement former international who can change a game on short term contract with the ability to terminate easily falls into a low financial risk - high on-field gain category for the Cowboys or any team for that matter. With the protracted process in him getting another club has no doubt gotten the message through that this is his last chance. Give him a go in the pre-season and if doesn't work then he is gone. Much like the Dragons took a punt on Wendel Salior - I reckon it is definitely worth the risk.
Norm
Guest
As a roosters supporter, so do I.
mushi
Roar Guru
Most peak around the mid to late 20s mark in their tackles and metres, sure there are some guys like Price but they are the exceptions not the rule. We tend to remember the exceptions and also we tend to focus on forwards after they’ve carved up for a few years. This had been the orosters error - paying late 20s guys assuming they'll "peak"
M1tch
Roar Guru
it got 50k 2 years ago, wouldnt be surprised now if it got another 50k
Mr cheese
Guest
Oikee, you are a Broncos fan ? I had wondered which team you supported. Over here in England, I have adopted The Catalan Dragons as my team. I like Thomas Bosc. Don't know much about Dallas Johnson. May I ask you a question ? In Brisbane, is RL the biggest sport by far ? I've never been to Aussie, but I believe that the Broncos are one of the best-supported team in all of Australian sport. Would I be right to think that the Broncos are the talk of the town in Brisbane ?? You will be glad to learn, Oikster, that Melbourne Storm are having a game in The Smoke against Quins RLFC before they play Leeds in the Club Challenge. I encourage you to read the George Riley column on the Rugby League section of the BBC Sport website. He mentions the Club Challenge there.