By Steve Mascord | March 11, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23353424-5006066,00.html
WILLIE Mason last night ensured a fiery opening to the centenary season on Friday when he declared to a room full of Sydney Roosters faithful: "I hate Souths". "That's nice to hear," was the response of South Sydney co-owner Peter Holmes a Court.
The Tricolours' star recruit made the comment at the club's season launch after coach Brad Fittler named his side for Friday night's premiership-opening clash between the bitter inner-city rivals at ANZ Stadium.
Asked on stage at Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club if he was buying into the century-old rivalry with South Sydney, 198cm Mason said with a grin: "I hate Souths too so there's no problem there.
"I'll jump on that bandwagon."
An amused Fittler, who surprisingly named internationals Mark O'Meley and Iosia Soliola on his bench, later commented: "It's always good to sell papers but Willie's good, as long as he backs it up."
Following the presentation, Mason told
The Daily Telegraph: "I think it's great for the game.
"I obviously haven't been involved in the hundred-year rivalry but I think it's something you've got to embrace. It's part of the club here, part of the history.
"Souths, they really try and thrive on it. You can't look too much into it. We've just got to worry about our own game.
"When the ball's kicked off, everybody is going to want to win the game. The rest is trying to sell tickets, really."
Souths' other owner, Russell Crowe, has made no secret of his distaste for Sydney Roosters and players will be reminded over the next few days when they hear extracts from his infamous
Book Of Feuds.
Mason's former Bulldogs teammate O'Meley declined to join him in criticising the Bunnies, telling MC Tim Webster and 200 guests: "I've got mates there".
But in a dig at his former club the Bulldogs, O'Meley said one of the positives about his move to Bondi Junction was "there's not much drama off the field".
In leaving O'Meley, New Zealand international Soliola and Queensland Origin stars Nate Myles and Danny Nutley out of his starting side, Fittler has a powerful bench.
But he said O'Meley may still start. "The side isn't finalised yet, we're still waiting on a few injuries," Fittler said. "We won't know until Wednesday or Thursday."
As well as the representative quartet, Frank-Paul Nuausala, Mitch Aubusson and Sam Perrett have been named on an extended reserves list.
Sia has just come back from a busted knee cap, said Fittler. Sam Perrett is more likely to play reserve grade, Mitch Aubusson is more likely to play reserve grade.
Former Warrington centre Brent Grose has won a start after signing a modest deal and there is no room for Myles in the back row of Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon and Mason.
