Spruiking has never been a problem for Willie Mason. But the usually softly-spoken Wayne Bennett thought he’d talk up the re-born Newcastle forward anyway in Brisbane on Wednesday.
And NSW mentor Laurie Daley is listening.
Mason, 32, received a shock call-up in the 20-strong NRL All Stars squad for the February 9 season opener at Suncorp Stadium after coach Bennett included him as a “coach’s selection”.
Mason might also fall into the “coach’s favourite” category judging by Bennett, who could not hide his admiration for his larger-than-life Knights charge on Wednesday.
“I picked him on his football ability but he will help in the talking it up stakes,” Bennett laughed.
“He has trained great. He is as enthusiastic as I have ever seen him – this is a just reward for him.”
Mason better get used to surprises.
Indigenous All Stars coach Daley, who will hold the NSW State of Origin reins for the first time in 2013, revealed Mason was already in the mix for a Blues jersey – five years after the forward last played representative football.
“I spoke to Wayne before about Willie,” Daley said.
“He’s a player who adds experience and size and we could do with a bit more size in the front row for NSW.
“He’s a guy who needs to continually play well and, if he does, who knows what will happen?”
Mason has not looked back since being thrown a lifeline midway through last season, earning a two-year contract extension last November.
Once the NRL’s class clown, it seems Mason has become teacher’s pet at Newcastle under Bennett after earning the Coach’s Award at last year’s end-of-season presentation.
Bennett said Mason’s boxing training for last month’s charity bout against rugby union player Troy Flavell had ensured he would pick up where he left off from last year’s impressive comeback.
“To just come into the competition when everyone else had played seven or eight games, it was pretty impressive stuff,” he said.
Daley chose another comeback kid from the Knights, Timana Tahu, as one of his coach’s picks along with Canberra rookie Jack Wighton.
Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk was the other player added to the NRL All Stars squad by Bennett after South Sydney sensation Adam Reynolds was named at No.7 by an on-line fan poll.
“Once the team is picked, I can do whatever I want but Adam will start. The fans wanted that and I have been pretty respectful of that,” Bennett said.
The two squads were named after more than 40,000 fans voted on-line.
A representative from each of the 16 clubs must feature in the NRL All Stars but fans could pick from all of the competition’s indigenous talent for Daley’s team.
Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall will again captain the NRL All Stars, which features Billy Slater at fullback and Parramatta livewire Jarryd Hayne on the bench.
The Indigenous side is led by Queensland playmaker Johnathan Thurston and features an electric backline including Ben Barba, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis and Blake Ferguson.
oikee
Guest
Hey Gus, be careful mate, some statements can come back to haunt you, and with a name like Gus, putting your foot in it wont come as any surprise, . Cheers mate, no offence on the name. I happen to like Gus, short and,,,,,um lets just say short and compact. :) Williams and Idris have all the right ingredients for success, they are Big, Bad and Ugly. (yes i know, i know, Idris is not ugly, but still. :) )
Brett
Guest
Well hopefully Bennett changes bj for the better and finds his form as he his a big aggressive boy with plenty of brute force for nsw off the bench.....GOD I WISH IT WAS A 8 man bench for origin. I like the backline the way it is with the 2 Fijian boys on the wing and Jennings in the centres. If josh gets injured I want either bj ferguson or Matt king there to fill in. I would say Jamie Lyon but he retired from rep footy. I being a manly fan hope that brett Stewart retains his postion as their is still plenty of time for Dugan to come. I just think that Stewart is a very good support player, knack for being in the right place at the right time, great try scoring ability, fast and a solid last line of defense at the back, Dugan maybe a centre for origin who knows. But he will be without a doubt pushing and should stewart not be able to play I hope Dugan gets the job.
Jake
Guest
I hope there is a hint of sarcasm in that comment, Brett?
Johnno
Guest
Josh Dugan will be pushing Brett Stewart this year. Blake Ferguson is good too. BJ Leluia, forget all that past stuff, that will fade. BJ was 18 th man for NSW in game 1, last year so is already very close to making the Blues squad. Is a quality player, and so much bigger than he was in the 2010 grand final and more experienced too, he is a very big boy. 6'2 100kh is fast and strong. And he has already made the 2013 emerging origin training camp, so he is on the blues radar. Wayne Bennett will look after him well. There are also a whole load of young bucks we don't really know about who will spruik up from no where too. Andrew Fifita is a big guy who has also been earmarked as an Origin blues contender, a real big boy. And a few of those new FIjians are very exciting too, like the wets tigers flyer, and the one who freddy and joey got to penrith. And I hope Faleti Mateo really steps up, he has so much potential , too good not to be playing origin. Reni Matua too, may come back you never know he is a class player when in form, .. Big Joel Sutton, and Adam Reynolds will be pushing hard too, for a spot in the blues squad. A few down in the Melbourne storm team who are talented and the brisbane broncos system too. Either way going to be an exciting year for rugby league best year ever. Topped off , with the season ending rugby league world cup in England. Can't wait bring on the footy season 2013, yeahhh.
Brett
Guest
It's good to see that those 3 are all so much older and maturer. I just wish manly had taken in Willie :)
oikee
Guest
Yes pretty good Brett, and Johnno, as long as you have got Gallen and Bird in the team, you cant really go to far wrong. I think both these players have come of age. Same as Mason, he has really been good since his return under Bennett. This is why i say we should always give young players as many chances as we can afford as a game. All these players were vertually the bad boys, now they are going on to become role models, what a turnaround. I never liked Gallen, but gee he has changed my mind of him as a person and leader. Aiden Seazer, he also seems like a future rep player. Another indigenous kid.
Brett
Guest
Well my rugby league motto has always been " to win you need early dominance" so yeah fight fire with fire. My team for battle would be Brett Stewart J Hayne M Jennings J mos Akuila Todd Kurt Gidley or soward Willie mason Robbie or bedsy as I like him a lot Tamou Watemough Bird Gallen Stewart Trex Felti Mateo Luke Lewis However there will be form issues and injuries so I have War machin Tariq A tupou B kite Kurt Gidley ( if not the half back) TLL And Tim grant Tell me what you think
Johnno
Guest
True that's a good point. QLD may try to take T-rex out of the game early if he starts,. But early on you have to fight fire with fire. And Bird is smaller. I'd maybe start with Tariq sims even , Bird is creative and can come on fresh after the 1st 20 and really create some gaps. Either way state of origin is going to be exciting this year, the interest will be as big as ever I predict Brett. And there will be injuries, and some bottlers, and young rookies on both states step up and force there way in, it happens every year. Josh Pappeli i think will make the QLD squad at some stage this year if he is injury free, and in form.
Brett
Guest
Yeah Hayne is better then slater for sure. And more agile then gi
Johnno
Guest
I agree Greg Inglis is bigger , but GI is just about the biggest player in the comp. Kasiano is bigger , but GI all roudn height and size, he is the biggest. But Hayne is still the complete package, and outside of Greg inglis Hayne for mine is the best outside back in the game, and yes that includes SLater. On his day Hayne maybe better than Gi, Hayne is so elusive , accelerates well reads a game well. Both Hayne and Inglis are superstars, no doubt about it.
Brett
Guest
I like it a lot but Trex should be used off the bench and bird should start IMO
Johnno
Guest
NSW pack early prediction: 13) Gal 12)T-rex 11)Watmough 10)James Tamou 9) Robbie Farah (to all those who thought a grand final winner, aussy test rep was not up to the toughness of state of origin, ate some big humble pie last year, and so did Mick Ennis who i rate too, but Farah is better 8) Willie Mason Bench: Tim Grant, Tariq Sims (very exciting and really aggressive and fiery too 6'4 106kg 23 this year, really raw and aggressive and strong just can't leave him out, a player as they say, suited too origin , Greg Bird , Kurt Gidley if he comes back to fitness Back up forwards and utility players: Big Tom LLlars, Glen Stewart, Luke Lewis, and probably some other back up players some young rookies and young blotters.
Brett
Guest
Don't get me wrong he's big but my comment is kinda referring back maybe 2-3 year when Queensland had there big backs. My head is confusing me with the losses of series which I hopes stops this year. But stand Side by side with inglis you will see a height difference
Johnno
Guest
Jarryd Hayne is 6'2 102 kg Hardly what you call lacking size, with the Hayne train Brett.
Brett
Guest
Ricky said that he had gallen in 10 because there were know props good enough in 2011 for origin which is debatable. If you saw game 2 and 3 of 2012 and 1 of 2011 then you will know that he is usually a lock. And look at this series we had Merrin (a prop) on the bench for game 2. We did have three props in that game. And what do you mean lacking size are you talking about qld or referring to my previous comment on nsw lacking size because if you are take a look, qld have Matt Scott, Greg inglis, the 2 David's and Ben hannant and thaiday, ben Teo. Who do we have ?a few smaller guys like Hayne, Watemough and g Stewart. But neither of those guys exceed from 194cm except for Tamou and Tim grant and possibly Trex. Throw Willie and felti Mateo in and we can match the big Queensland forward pack and there bench player. I'm just glad that they don't have folau and lote
What a joker
Guest
NSW will never select 3 or 4 props in the 17. They will do what they have previously done and select Gallen at prop, with Tamou the other starter. Then use Watmough, Creagh and the like to fill some minutes up front. Yeah, Taylor, Shillington, Hannant and Thaiday are all 110kgs-120kgs, how exactly are they lacking size?
Gus Paella
Guest
Johnno c'mon. Size doesn't equal success! Williams and Idris aren't up to it. A speedy, ball playing back row almost did it for NSW this year if not for Uate dogging it, a dodgy try and a field goal to Cronk. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Brett
Guest
agreed. they will bring size which nsw has kinda struggled with aside from the 2012 series
Terry Kidd
Guest
Interesting that people deride Willi for supposedly talking himself up yet Sailor was lauded for it. To tell the truth I didn't hear Willi doing to much talking about himself last year and I thought he played some pretty good footy. If he is selected for NSW SOO then good on him. At least we know that he will turn up and play, and won't squib it. A Blues front row of Tamou, Mason and Grant is one I would have little argument with.
josh
Roar Rookie
I guess at the very least Mason would be able to inspire the young kids with tales of Origin's lost.