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Willie Mason is a magnetic character. People are drawn to him and you can’t help but listen to the forward speak because you never know what he’s going to say next.
Mason is back in the frame for State of Origin selection for the first time since 2008 and even fair judges like Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett think the 32-year-old is up to it.
The problem for Mason is that New South Wales coach Laurie Daley has a wealth of second-rowers to choose from and most of those have a higher work-rate than the Knights forward.
Mason started the year with a huge game against the Wests Tigers busting out 14 runs for 119 metres at Hunter Stadium.
The performance grabbed the eye of Daley, but after four rounds his statistics don’t match-up to his competitors.
Melbourne’s Ryan Hoffman is averaging 74.75 minutes, 14.75 runs, 119.75 metres and 24 tackles a game.
Greg Bird has averaged 79 minutes, 14.75 runs, 136 metres and 22.5 tackles per game for the Gold Coast Titans.
Anthony Watmough has played slightly less minutes for Manly at 67.25 and has had 12.5 runs per game after the opening month, but has still chalked up 122.5 metres and 35.25 tackles a game for the Sea Eagles.
Mason, who has played three of the opening four games of the season, has managed just 31.3 minutes a game, 10.3 runs, 83.33 metres and 12.6 tackles on average.
That’s before you even throw in Cronulla’s Luke Lewis and the possibility of Glenn Stewart returning from injury prior to game one.
I’d have Bird and Luke Lewis as my starting second rowers with Watmough coming off the bench.
If Stewart is fit and ready then that complicates the picture even further.
Daley will have to decide whether he carries two or three props on the bench.
Aaron Woods, James Tamou, Trent Merrin, Tim Grant and Tim Mannah are all in line for selection.
He may decide not to cut any of them and play with five, but that leaves one less spot for a back rower.
So does that mean Luke Lewis or Anthony Watmough miss out with Glenn Stewart included in the starting side?
Or perhaps Watmough and Lewis will be on the bench with one of the props as 18th man.
All of that has to be solved before Mason even gets a look in.
He is all about impact and undoubtably makes a mark when he comes on.
The former international has made 31 runs in three games and gained 250 metres.
When you throw that up against Ryan Hoffman (59 runs, 479 metres), Greg Bird (59 runs, 544 metres) and Anthony Watmough (50 runs, 489 metres) his stats aren’t that bad considering he has played one less game.
Still, it’s hard to see Mason forcing his way into the frame unless he increases his minutes.
His inclusion would be intriguing, but if I was a selector I couldn’t have the big fella in my team.
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