Sharks apparently ARE interested now.
FMD.
Sharks keen on Mason with decision close
6th November 2007, 17:06 WST
Cronulla are "certainly interested" in Willie Mason and hurriedly crunching the numbers as the giant NRL backrower's dispute with the Bulldogs draws to a conclusion.
The main piece in the ongoing puzzle will be resolved on Wednesday night, when the Bulldogs board meets to decide Mason's fate.
The board is expected to confirm Mason's exit from the club, with Mason himself reportedly wanting out over his ongoing feud with chief executive Malcolm Noad, with two years remaining on his contract.
If that proves to be the case, it's believed Mason's preferred destination would be a reunion with former `Dogs Mark O'Meley and Braith Anasta at the Roosters.
Coach Brad Fittler has already admitted he would be interested in bringing Mason to Bondi Junction and would also consider allowing him to pursue his interest in boxing during the off-season.
But the tricolours, who already boast high profile representative talent in Anasta, Anthony Minichiello, Nate Myles and new recruit O'Meley, might struggle to find salary cap room for the damaging Test second-rower.
That could leave the Sharks in the box seat and despite reports that keeping prop Ben Ross would rule the club out of the race, chief executive Tony Zappia confirmed he was still looking at ways to accommodate Mason for 2008 if he comes on the market.
"Yes, we're interested, but we're just investigating ways we could do it and how we could do it," Zappia said.
"Obviously he's wanting a lot of money to play.
"And the other thing is really nobody can do anything officially until it's all worked out with the Bulldogs.
"We're certainly interested, we just have to work out the financial side of it because we're pretty much up with the cap."
Mason's manager Greg Keenan was contacted on Tuesday, but wouldn't comment on the situation.
If he does leave the Bulldogs, it's understood Mason wants to remain in Sydney and it seems certain he will have to accept significantly less than the $450,000 a season he currently earns.
Cronulla could be an attractive option to Mason, who admitted last week he loved playing under Sharks coach Ricky Stuart at Origin and Test level.
Bulldogs great Paul Langmack, who won three premierships with the club in the 1980s, said he hoped "common sense" would prevail and that Mason would remain in the blue and white.
But Langmack said the ordeal had been handled poorly by both parties.
"It probably just could have been handled better, you know - by the club and Willie," he said.
"If the Bullfrog (long-standing former Bulldogs chief executive Peter Moore) was around he would have got him in a headlock a couple of years ago ... and given him a back-hander and had a beer with him in private and no-one would ever know about it."
Langmack added he believed Mason had been given too much latitude by the club and needed to have clearer guidelines early in his career.
The majority of NRL clubs are already starting pre-season training and would have extreme difficulty juggling the salary cap to accommodate a player of Mason's stature.
The Wests Tigers joined a chorus of clubs ruling out chasing Mason's signature.
"We're not in a position to do anything there," chief executive Stephen Noyce said. "There are some salary cap constraints obviously.
"We're very much (happy with the list we have). First thing's first, he's got a contract with Canterbury and it's up to them to decide what they want to do, but salary cap would certainly preclude us from doing anything anyway."
Mason, who is in Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival, is not expected to attend Wednesday night's meeting.
AAP
http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=434268
