http://http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/williams-mason-in-nightclub-row/2007/04/30/1177788056594.html
BULLDOGS enforcer Willie Mason and outspoken Dragons five-eighth Richie Williams nearly came to blows at a city club on Saturday night.
Williams created a storm last week when he criticised the form of Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta - Mason's close friend and former teammate - in the Herald before the Anzac Day clash between the Dragons and Roosters.
Mason confronted Williams, 20, late on Saturday and told the young pivot he needed to show more respect.
Williams told Mason not to "preach" to him. At one point it is understood Williams's friend had to step between the two players to stop the argument getting physical. Asked about the row yesterday, Mason said in a text message: "Yeah I give (sic) him a couple of words."
The Herald understands Williams, under a media ban since his Anasta comments, is hurt by the ordeal of the past week, in which fans and the club have castigated him following the Dragons' 18-4 loss.
A source close to Williams said: "He feels like he can't go out any more. He is pretty down because he idolises these guys who play in the NRL and he gets treated like this. He just wants to be left alone by everyone. He is shell-shocked, and is pretty angry. Everyone is bagging him and they haven't given him a chance to show what he can do."
Williams's father, Doug, who is recovering in hospital from a heart attack after Wednesday's game, said he would not have been too worried about his son had the altercation become a fist fight. "I have seen him take on bigger blokes than Willie," Doug said. The day after the incident, Mason repeated his thoughts in a fiery The Sun-Herald column, writing that Williams's comments were "absolutely ridiculous" and "he should learn to respect people".
Anasta, the City five-eighth for Thursday's City-Country clash, revealed yesterday he was nervous before the match after Williams said the high-profile Rooster was "not as good as he was" in previous seasons. "I was really nervous before the game, he put all the pressure on me with those comments," he said. "I knew I had to go out and perform because everybody would be watching me.
"You have always got your doubters, and people who question your ability, but you know what? If the people questioning you are respected in the game I would take it on board.
"But when someone really hasn't earned his respect in the game - and certainly off me - it is hard to take."
BULLDOGS enforcer Willie Mason and outspoken Dragons five-eighth Richie Williams nearly came to blows at a city club on Saturday night.
Williams created a storm last week when he criticised the form of Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta - Mason's close friend and former teammate - in the Herald before the Anzac Day clash between the Dragons and Roosters.
Mason confronted Williams, 20, late on Saturday and told the young pivot he needed to show more respect.
Williams told Mason not to "preach" to him. At one point it is understood Williams's friend had to step between the two players to stop the argument getting physical. Asked about the row yesterday, Mason said in a text message: "Yeah I give (sic) him a couple of words."
The Herald understands Williams, under a media ban since his Anasta comments, is hurt by the ordeal of the past week, in which fans and the club have castigated him following the Dragons' 18-4 loss.
A source close to Williams said: "He feels like he can't go out any more. He is pretty down because he idolises these guys who play in the NRL and he gets treated like this. He just wants to be left alone by everyone. He is shell-shocked, and is pretty angry. Everyone is bagging him and they haven't given him a chance to show what he can do."
Williams's father, Doug, who is recovering in hospital from a heart attack after Wednesday's game, said he would not have been too worried about his son had the altercation become a fist fight. "I have seen him take on bigger blokes than Willie," Doug said. The day after the incident, Mason repeated his thoughts in a fiery The Sun-Herald column, writing that Williams's comments were "absolutely ridiculous" and "he should learn to respect people".
Anasta, the City five-eighth for Thursday's City-Country clash, revealed yesterday he was nervous before the match after Williams said the high-profile Rooster was "not as good as he was" in previous seasons. "I was really nervous before the game, he put all the pressure on me with those comments," he said. "I knew I had to go out and perform because everybody would be watching me.
"You have always got your doubters, and people who question your ability, but you know what? If the people questioning you are respected in the game I would take it on board.
"But when someone really hasn't earned his respect in the game - and certainly off me - it is hard to take."
