Boots 'n' All caught up with Willie Mason who is determined to make a name for himself in our club game.
Mason ready for Super League challenge
Willie Mason arrived this week and
Boots 'n' All caught up with the Aussie import who tells us he is raring to make a name for himself in our club game.
Mason will make his belated debut in Super League on Sunday against the Crusaders, after he was held up in Australia with visa problems. He may not have played for six months but is confident he can catch up and make an impact
"I have a love for the Super League - the brand of football that they play is exciting," said Mason on
Boots 'n' All.
"In the NRL the emphasises is on wrestling which is probably why Wigan won last year because they bought the Melbourne culture with them and started to wrestle everyone. The enterprising attacking football they play over here will really suit my game. I can't wait."
The 6ft 5 in forward is famed for his abrasive style and is well known over here - especially for his punch ups with England forwards Stuart Fielden and Jamie Peacock in the 2006 Tri Nations series.
Mason is looking forward to playing against the likes of Fielden again, but warns he will not be taking a step backwards for anyone.
"I have always admired the players over here. I have some really good friends over here - Mark O'Meley and my old mate Stuart Fielden," added Mason.
"Stuart is a goer; he's a proud man and I am pretty sure he wants to square up and play as hard as he can against me. I won't be taking a step backwards against anyone, regardless if it is Stuart Fielden or any English players.
"I think he may be more pumped up than me but at the end of the day we are football players and not boxers so what happens on the field stays on the field."
Hull KR coach Justin Morgan is still not sure where he will best utilise the full range of Mason's skills, but says the most important thing now is to get him on the pitch.
"I have not decided if I will start him or start him on the bench against Crusaders - I will have a discussion with him but unless we have a mishap he will be playing," said Morgan on
Boots 'n' All
"I have said all along that I see him as a edge weapon for us - Clint Newton has proved he is a handful on the right edge and we can get Willie up to speed on the left, but we also have the option of playing him up the middle or up the right side - it just gives me a number of combinations to go with.
"But this week I just went to get him out there and give him a run and a feeling for the team."
