Willie Mason signs for North Queensland Cowboys

[parra_jesus]

• By Josh Massoud and Phil Rothfield
• From: The Daily Telegraph
• February 05, 2010 12:00AM

HE'S always been a cowboy by nature, and now Willie Mason is finally a Cowboy by name after he accepted a one-year NRL lifeline from North Queensland last night. The off-season's top-rating soap opera climaxed late yesterday when Mason rejected an offer to return home to Newcastle in preference to reuniting with former Bulldogs teammates Johnathan Thurston and Willie Tonga in the tropics.
The Daily Telegraph understands Mason was not impressed with behavioural clauses the Knights wanted to insert in his contract, and that tipped the scales in North Queensland's favour. Mason's management were in discussions with Roosters officials for much of yesterday, as both parties sought to strike a pay-out figure for the remainder of his $400,000 contract at Bondi.
The negotiations included overseas phonecalls to powerful Roosters chairman Nick Politis, who was in greece

When contacted last night, Politis confirmed Mason would be released and wished him the best of luck in Townsville this year.
"It's good for Willie, I'm happy for him,"



Politis said from Greece. "I think that Townsville is the right place for him. Newcastle is too similar to Sydney.
"It didn't work out with us at the Roosters but I wish him well."
Roosters CEO Steve Noyce said the final payout figure was still to be finalised, with negotiations between him and Cowboys boss Peter Parr to continue today.
"Willie has agreed to come and play for us this season, but I want to stress that it's on the proviso he receives a formal clearance from the Roosters," Parr said.
"Willie's management is working on that now."
Mason has been on the outer at Bondi since the end of last season, and had been given time off on full pay to find a new club for the past five months.
His manager Greg Keenan has been working in Europe of late and recently hired the services of Sydney-based agent Sam Ayoub to help secure a deal in time for the start of the season.
"It's been a tough period for Willie and everyone close to him is relieved that he's made a decision," Ayoub said. "Everyone is comfortable with where things are at.
"It's yet to be finalised when Willie will move to Townsville, but that's something we'll be discussing with the Cowboys over the next few days."
Neither the Roosters or Cowboys would discuss the value of Mason's deal, but he had earlier been offered to Wests Tigers for $60,000 plus a third-party sponsor's payment.
A former International and Clive Churchill medallist, Mason was seen as a top-value purchase by the game's best coaches - Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler, Ricky Stuart and Tim Sheens.
However, none of them were able to convince their respective managements to take a gamble on the 29-year-old.
Both the Cowboys and Knights only emerged as contenders in the past fortnight, and Mason personally rang Knights recruitment manager Keith Onslow to inform him of his decision to join North Queensland late yesterday.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...eensland-cowboys/story-e6frexnr-1225826887948

 

[Godz Illa]

Did the Cowboys provide back pay for Mason's efforts in round 26 last year?

 

[johns_reds]

Good choice Willie!

i think he'll go good up there, In my opinion it was an easy choice, playing with a team who has a chance for the top 8 vs a team who will be battling not to get the wooden spoon!

 

[bartman]

Sucked in Willie.

At least through this exercise you've gotten a better idea of your real value... no offers from Japanese/overseas rugby (which you talked up when SBW did his runner), no offers from NFL, no offers from overseas Super League, no offers from boxing... get the picture? :lol:

Oh, and sucked in Townsville... you won't know what hit you until he gets there, and spreads his "positive influence" among the juniors in your squad. Cowboys will turn to pot (or worse?) over the next few years...

 

[Ridders]

Good luck to him. Hope he kills it.

 

[Phillips]

Good choice Willie!

i think he'll go good up there, In my opinion it was an easy choice, playing with a team who has a chance for the top 8 vs a team who will be battling not to get the wooden spoon!

i guess he'll be winning the spoon then.

 

[Ridders]

Did the Cowboys provide back pay for Mason's efforts in round 26 last year?

:lol:

 

[petetheileet]

I think itl go well, hey they will be getting him for next to nothing!!!

 

[Different kind of Rabbit]

Hmmm, perhaps I may go and invest in a night club up around Cairns way...

Coogee Bay Hotel, Beach Palace, Northies and several other regular haunts of his will be devastated.

 

[Trentski]

bye bye Mason.

 

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Good choice Willie!

i think he'll go good up there, In my opinion it was an easy choice, playing with a team who has a chance for the top 8 vs a team who will be battling not to get the wooden spoon!

How much football did you watch last year? The Cowboys were a joke and their soft under belly won't be steeled by signing the big show pony.

 

[macavity]

In my opinion it was an easy choice, playing with a team who has a chance for the top 8 vs a team who will be battling not to get the wooden spoon!

Gotta laugh at this line of thinking.

Knights finished 7th without their two starting props for pretty much the whole year, and without Smith abandoning us could have made the top 4.

Cowboys finished 12th.

It ended up an easy choice because the Cowboys are the frat house of the NRL. He had a choice between growing up and partying on - and he chose partying on.

 

[dubby]

He'll do well up there.

No Sydney media giving him a hard time, so he can relax a little and enjoy himself. This will help the big lug play better footy.

LOL at all his knockers here. I'm no Mason fan, but the guy is a good footballer and will play some good footy this year in a new club. Plus he will be eager to prove his critics wrong.

 

[Slackboy72]

Here's the SMH report: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...son-joins-mates-at-cowboys-20100204-ng9i.html

It's over: Mason joins mates at Cowboys
BRAD WALTER
February 5, 2010
Willie Mason.

Free Willie heads north ... Mason has agreed to join the Cowboys. Photo: Getty Images

WILLIE MASON chose North Queensland over Newcastle as his new home this season because he believes the Cowboys have more chance of winning the premiership.

Mason, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys, was also swayed by the fact that three of his former Bulldogs teammates, Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga and Ben Harris, play for the club.

The former Test forward is expected to arrive in Townsville today to finalise the move after last night advising Newcastle officials of his decision.

It is understood that the Knights had more room under the salary cap to accommodate Mason and were prepared to offer him a two-year deal but the chance to win another grand final was a stronger attraction for the 2004 Clive Churchill Medal winner.

Even the opportunity to return home to Newcastle, where his family lives, and play alongside 18-year-old brother Rodney - a member of the Knights NYC squad - was not as powerful a lure for Mason, who will be motivated this season by his desire to prove a point to the Sydney Roosters officials who no longer wanted him at the club.

He will receive a pay-out from the Roosters but the club has indicated it expects to make a substantial saving by releasing him from his $400,000-a-season contract.

Having already earned $100,000 for the three months he has been told to stay away from the club on extended leave, Mason is likely to receive a similar amount as his settlement.

But he will almost certainly have to accept a reduction in earnings this season as the Cowboys are understood to have little more than $60,000 to offer him.

With Thurston, the Kangaroos halfback and Cowboys captain, off contract at the end of the season and attracting interest from rugby union, North Queensland officials were not believed to be in a position to offer Mason a long-term deal.

However, Mason believes a big year with the Cowboys will ensure he is in demand for 2011 after initially struggling to find a new club when it was made clear he had no future at the Roosters.

After agreeing to a two-year deal with the Storm, News Ltd officials ruled against the premiers signing him and St George Illawarra, Cronulla and Manly also backed away after expressing interest.

There were suggestions last night that the strict behavioural clauses the Knights wanted to include in Mason's contract may have played a role in turning him away, although Newcastle officials were confident that the environment at the club would be ideal for him.

Despite not having trained with the Roosters since the end of last season, Mason has been working with a personal trainer to keep fit.

He is expected to play in the Cowboys' pre-season trials and will press for selection in their opening-round clash with Brisbane.

 

[Slackboy72]

I particularly liked the part:

WILLIE MASON chose North Queensland over Newcastle as his new home this season because he believes the Cowboys have more chance of winning the premiership.

What makes it funnier is that it's true.

 

[adamkungl]

lol....suddenly people are tipping the Cowboys for top 8? In the "who do you think will win the spoon" thread of a few weeks back they were a popular tip. If Thurston goes down, say goodbye

 

[Broncodr01d]

A good signing for the Cowboys. There is nothing like a professional athlete who at one time was as bigger star on the field as he is now off it to be humbled to spark that fire that long faded. I think Mason will have a big season this year, a big season.

I wish my club had the forsight to make a play for Mason. At the very least, a small incentive deal with a 2/3 year option for 2011 and onward.

 

[Joker's Wild]

So with the "best player in the world" running around for them, the Cows only managed to finish 12th last season but they are a good chance of winning a GF in the next 2 years? Love your logic Willie :lol:

I think we all know the real reason he chose to head Nth has little to do with premiership chances and more to do with discipline

 

[Rhino_NQ]

Would only approve of signing him if the price was right and it definately was this time. If it turns out a flop then sh!t happens, it won't break our bank. Willie's best form at the dogs was under Billy Johnston's training and with an injury free off season (well as far as i know) and a "last chance" mentality he could very well have a great season for us. Wouldn't be hard to impress more then kaufasi and manakafoa anyway and with the exception of our young guys yet to debut that i dont know much about we are light on a decent sub prop off the bench to go with webb and scott (even then webb is very hot and cold).

 

[Canard]

On what planet is the Knights a "disciplined" organisation in comparision to the wild "frat house" Cowboys???

Sounds like a big bag of sour grapes to me.

As for where we might finish on the ladder, who knows but did you really expect Willie to say "Well they have been sh*t for a while now, hopefully I can provide some assistance and we might win a few extra games."

I thought the majority of fans would revel in the fact that a the Roosters are forking out a sh*tload of cash for another clubs benefit!