I support Manly with all my heart, but one thing is for certain. I would be extremely dissapointed to see Willie Mason leave the game (NRL). I personally believe he is one of the best props (when he plays there) to have EVER been produced in the game today. He has also matured as a leader, a player, and a role model. Much like Ben Kennedy for Manly.
As for Lyon. I know he will always have fond memories of Parramatta, and he holds the club dear to his heart - and he has very close friends there (players wise). I know this because of some of things he said to us at an after game day function @ Brookvale Leagues Club in 2004. That was the day someone put a Manly jumper in front of him when the camera was on him. Hence to say he wasn't pleased at all.
Everything aside though - he is a talented player, and like others have said - it will be interesting to see how he fares in Australia. The games progressed a lot since he left.
As for Matai. He IS a great player no doubt. As someone has wisely said though, Burns is too good to shift from 5/8, and why break up what appears to be a consistent 1/2's combo Manly hasn't seen in a long, long time !!! I'd actually team Matai & Lyon on one flank, Bell & Hicks on the other. For this to work, we (Manly) need one of Williamson, Afamasanga, Wells, Stewart, Cuthbertson, Offerdahl, Grieve or Tutt to step up. There's a few as seen here vying for the 13 jumper, which means healthy competition.
