We are well past April 1, so presumably the report of his switch from rugby league to rugby union was accurate.
It’s astonishing that even someone as eccentric as the French comic books millionaire Mourad Boudjellal would agree to such a bizarre and inevitably unsuccessful signing for his club.
Mason was involved in one of the many off-field disasters that have marked his career over the years.
He moved on to another Australian rugby league club, sounded out the Waratahs in 2007 and Japanese rugby interests in 2009 before finally finding a UK Super League club, Hull Kingston Rovers, that was foolish enough to take him on as a player.
There are two points about Mason that need to be made.
First, he can’t play rugby league at anywhere near the level of impact and effectiveness he did early on in his career. He is a caricature of a league tough man, a sort of rugby league version of the pro-wrestling fake bad man.
He snarls. He yaps. He eyes his opponents fiercely. But it is all posturing.
Second, he is poison to any club he joins. There is a list of clubs he has left with their culture in tatters. His best moves are all off the field.
There is the suggestion that he will switch from his position in rugby league in the forwards to the rugby union position of inside centre. The rationale for this presumably is that Sonny Bill Williams has made a terrific transition from being a rugby league forward to this position in rugby union.
It won’t work out like this, however.
Williams and Mason are both big men but this is where the similarities end. Williams is an athlete at the peak of his powers. Mason is not.
Williams is dedicated to his profession as a rugby player. Mason is dedicated, it appears, to the need for big pay-outs to support his mortgages. Williams is smart. Mason is not.
Williams delivers on the field. Mason delivers only off the field.
Mason has no chance of being successful as a rugby union inside centre. If Andy Farrell, a league star forward with far more class and skills than Mason ever had, couldn’t do it, what hope does Mason have?
He is not fit enough, skilful enough or genuinely tough enough to play as a rugby union forward, the way Brad Thorn has.
This means that there is no position in a rugby union side that Mason can play in.
Boudjellal may be worth millions, but he is throwing money away by employing Mason. There are lots of reasons ($600,00 a year of them) for Mason to join Toulon.
But I can’t think of one reason why the club wants to bring him into its fold.
Shahsan
Guest
SBW is about the only league player -- ok, aside from jason robinson and maybe Brad thorn - who has become any good in rugby. The rest have come over to becoem journeymen players who earn a diosproportionate amount of money. I'm sure it would be the same for most of the players you mentioned.
Shahsan
Guest
Streetsmart. Smart at what he is doing with his career and on the field. Hasnt done much wrong since his heinous crime of leaving the Bulldogs.
Shahsan
Guest
Yes, but about 50 years old
jus de couchon
Guest
Whoever this Mason chap is he needs to work on his PR judging by the comments here. He looks like a big enough Lump that could "impact" for the last 20 minutes.
IronAwe
Roar Rookie
Yes he is, I hope Gavin flattened him.
bozo
Guest
Alarmists! There can be no truth in any of this. Mason can' t lift his heels more than 6 inches off the ground. There can't be any one that rich and dopey..even in France.
Aware
Guest
Mason is a man of many flaws, but people forget his MVP award as best player for the Bulldogs in the 2004 grand final (or around that time) and many rep. games for the Kangaroos in the front row. Knocking becomes a trend when luck and form turn a bit sour. He may be his own worst enemy, but wouldn't be Robinson Crusoe in that regard the way the NRL is nowadays. No doubt fans were saying "knock em down Willie" when he was in the good books.
Slamma
Guest
After WIllies efforts to destroy Nick Politis Roosters, Fittler, Fittlers coaching career and reputation there is more chance of peace in the Middle East than a gig with 9
Slamma
Guest
He and his brother inherited the family comic book business from their father
Slamma
Guest
Big WIllie Style has been deregistered by Hull KR But he has not been signed yet by Toulon. Greg Keenans fingerprints are all over this. I spoke to Giteaus manager at SEL yday and he said that Matt would be spewing that they had done this
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
My only interest in this story is how Boudjellal is so wealthy with such bad judgement. I have bad judgement a plenty. The question is how can I turn it into wealth? ;)
John Ryan
Guest
To be quite honest your welcome to Mason the man will infect any club he plays for enjoy chaps
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Cambell I said after one year, not at the beginning. It would work as it did for SBW.
preciouspress
Guest
I never thought the day would come when I agree absolutely with Spiro. How any football club could employ Mason is beyond me. His time on the NRL fields was limited to 10-15 minute spells and within this time frame, his contribution seldom exceeded two carries of the ball. In addition reports suggest he is a disruptive influence at any club he infects. As to future employment - maybe Channel 9 is his best bet as back up to Brad Fittler.
Redback
Guest
what a gift for any rugby centre playing against mason hes slow lacks ballskills.Mason would give any opposing centre a gift 3 points best and fairest for any match.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'A past-it Johnny Wilkinson' Regardless of my own opinion of Wilkinson he has actually become a very well regarded figure in French rugby. That's pretty hard to miss, you know... 'instead he ends up with Mason.' He hasn't ended up with Mason, unless you know something that I don't.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
he wont go. all Toulon has to do is google willie mason and see the level of hatred for the guy that has come out in the last two days. what this whole episode does show is the gorwing power of European rugby union. the growth is astounding.
Crashy
Guest
I'll think you'll find that the name Sonny Bill Williams is now far more known around the world than before my friend. Mason is an oxygen thief but Williams will see a lot of coverage this year the way he is playing.
Slippery
Guest
$$$$$$$$$$$$$UNNY Bill Williams and Big Willie Style are self promoting Yahoos from the American school of ego talking sportspeople. they only seek personal fulfillment and couldnt care less about the team unless it furthers their own ends. BWS came to my favourite team the Roosters and was the spark that started a bushfire resulting in Freddie Fittler being put under a cloud and removed. he is only at his best when he is up for contract he wont be missed and will be remembered about as much as $unny Bill
ptovey01
Roar Pro
Willie is a d!ck. End of.