WILLIE MASON has been speaking to his old mates in the NRL for several weeks, searching for a possible opening at a Sydney-based club. Mason has made quiet contact with former teammates, telling them he was keen to return to the NRL but not specifying exactly when he would hope to make his comeback to the competition where he made his name. It is believed Mason was eyeing off a start with Parramatta although it's unclear if any formal conversations between the towering forward and the club have taken place. Mason is still very close to former Bulldogs teammate Reni Maitua, who relaunched his own career with the Eels last season. Mason has also had a very strong relationship with former NSW Origin coach Phil Gould, who is general manager at the Panthers. In the past, Gould has touted Mason as a potential Blues skipper. There's no doubting Mason's athletic ability and it appears he has a renewed desire to reach the top again in the NRL. What may count against him is his unhappy stint with the Roosters, which resulted in him being paid out the final year of his contract and moving to North Queensland for the 2010 season. He then headed overseas this year for a short-lived stint with Hull KR and what looks like another truncated stay, this time with Toulon.
