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Big Willie - A big cat or just smart?

nqboy

First Grade
Messages
8,914
Anyone else notice Mason's reaction to Morley's knee the other day? Mason is initially outraged by the action and stalks forward, intent on retaliation. Then he sees it's Morley he's picking and backs right off.

I guess that's the difference between acting tough and being tough.
 

number8

Juniors
Messages
2,449
Soft. For a bloke his size he's soft. He should be unstoppable & on occasion is, but generally he doesn't cause the damage he should.

Imagine the trouble a Danny Nutley or Mick Crocker would cause if they had his frame!

I wouldn't say he was a cat though either. If he goes the biff with Morley, what does his team, or himself for that matter, gain?
 

number8

Juniors
Messages
2,449
Anyway, I've seen him fire up only once on the feild & if it weren't for his sheer proportions you'd have laughed him off. He didn't look to have much more than a reach. I think he's one of those "lover, not a fighter" types.
 

nadera78

Juniors
Messages
2,233
A lot of big guys are like that, actually. They have such a big physical advantage over everyone else when growing up they never have to really extend themselves in a physical/violent way. Then when older they can't because they never learnt how.
 

miccle

Bench
Messages
4,334
IMO it shows that he is smart. Willie was one of the worst things for the NRL a few years back. Always in trouble on and off the field - a complete PR nightmare. In season 2006, he has really just let his football do the talking and it has really gained a lot of my respect back. He probably thought about taking out whoever did it, but realised that it'd be a stupid mistake to make in the lead-up to the finals and he did the best thing for himself and his team. I've got no doubts that he would have backed off even if a smaller fella kneed Hughes. At least that's what I'd like to think about him.
 

Nathan B

Juniors
Messages
556
I don't think Willie saw exactly what Morley did to Hughes. Obviously he knew it was Morley who was responsible for knocking Hughes down, but when Morley made contact, Willie was bending down (along way when you're Willie) to pick up the ball at dummy half. I'd be very surprised if Willie knew Morley kneed Hughes. There were also about three other roosters there, so I doubt he would of started something no matter who did it.

Willie's a big softie!
 

Nathan B

Juniors
Messages
556
And what about Morley and the three other rooster players in front of Mason? The referee didn't blow his whistle for a few seconds, Willie comes walking up with ball in hand, and they didn't even attempt to tackle him. It was play on at that stage.
 

richie8u

Juniors
Messages
420
miccle said:
IMO it shows that he is smart. Willie was one of the worst things for the NRL a few years back. Always in trouble on and off the field - a complete PR nightmare. In season 2006, he has really just let his football do the talking and it has really gained a lot of my respect back. He probably thought about taking out whoever did it, but realised that it'd be a stupid mistake to make in the lead-up to the finals and he did the best thing for himself and his team. I've got no doubts that he would have backed off even if a smaller fella kneed Hughes. At least that's what I'd like to think about him.

Im no doggies fan, but i totally agree
 

gunnamatta bay

Referee
Messages
21,084
Well I think they are good mates as evidenced by the possibility of Mason appearing on Morley's behalf tonight. What they want him to say though is a mystery.

Anyway fact is a lot of opposing players are very friendly off the field. Some fans fail to see how this is so and spend their time bagging other clubs followers while their heros socialise all the time. After all they have a lot in common.
 

Azkatro

First Grade
Messages
6,905
I noticed that too, but the more I see it the more it kind of seems like one of those awkward moments where the initial reaction is to have a go at Morley and then he suddenly realises the bizareness of what he'd just done. Fighter or not, would you go anywhere near a bloke who just lost the plot to the point that he kneed someone in the package? That's scary!
 

Mr Saab

Referee
Messages
27,762
miccle said:
IMO it shows that he is smart. Willie was one of the worst things for the NRL a few years back. Always in trouble on and off the field - a complete PR nightmare. In season 2006, he has really just let his football do the talking and it has really gained a lot of my respect back. He probably thought about taking out whoever did it, but realised that it'd be a stupid mistake to make in the lead-up to the finals and he did the best thing for himself and his team. I've got no doubts that he would have backed off even if a smaller fella kneed Hughes. At least that's what I'd like to think about him.

I agree with all that.
Some others on here are a bunch of pathetic hypocrites.
Starting a fight with Morley will achieve what exactly?
Would be a great look for the game wouldnt!!
Mason throwing haymakers...Morley throwing haymakers...asotasi runs in...Maitua....we have an all in. Yeah great for the game :roll:
 

PARRA_FAN

Coach
Messages
17,703
It wouldve been interesting to see Mason and Morely go head to head. I reckon if Mason did try and take him on, it wouldve been in the papers and everyone wouldve called him a thug.

Probably a smart thing for Willie.
 

Phillips

Referee
Messages
24,049
Mason is a cat, i bet even Jason King wouldnt have just stood there if that happend to a team mate :crazy:
 
Messages
16,034
Why on earth is Mason appearing on Morely's behalf?

What a joke!

Almost as funny as when Jack Newton was going to appear for Clint in the retrial after his act of madness.
 

gunnamatta bay

Referee
Messages
21,084
So is Mason afraid of Morley or not? If it had of been a scrawny full back like Brett Hodson who kneed Hughes would he have gone in hammer and tongs?
 
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