Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:06 am  

jonh wrote:

If Mason was available and willing to come to SL he would be the perfect addition to our pack and great for the likes of Taylor to be around.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:47 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

You're kidding right?

He has been in outstanding form since his return to the NRL, Wayne Bennett (who allegedly advised Wigan off signing him years ago because of bad knees and attitude etc) has built one of the meanest packs in the league around him. Wayne Bennett has been quoted as saying Mason is one of his closest advisers.

He is in the Knights leadership team, and off the field has been a revelation for the Knights. I do not condone the DUI charge but if you look at the details he went out on the drink on Australia Day, took a taxi home and was pulled the next day. A bad mistake to make obviously but a little different from getting smashed and then choosing to drive.

His form last year saw him in line for an Origin return.

Recruiting a player in form on a 2 year contract with his reputation and the journey he has taken, leading one of the greatest minds in the game to appoint him to his leadership team and acting as a club mentor, I can see very few negatives.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:16 pm  

jonh wrote:

He has been in outstanding form since his return to the NRL, Wayne Bennett (who allegedly advised Wigan off signing him years ago because of bad knees and attitude etc) has built one of the meanest packs in the league around him. Wayne Bennett has been quoted as saying Mason is one of his closest advisers.

He is in the Knights leadership team, and off the field has been a revelation for the Knights. I do not condone the DUI charge but if you look at the details he went out on the drink on Australia Day, took a taxi home and was pulled the next day. A bad mistake to make obviously but a little different from getting smashed and then choosing to drive.

His form last year saw him in line for an Origin return.

Recruiting a player in form on a 2 year contract with his reputation and the journey he has taken, leading one of the greatest minds in the game to appoint him to his leadership team and acting as a club mentor, I can see very few negatives.

Club mentor?! The guy is consistantly in disciplinary trouble. I'm not saying he wouldn't be a good player to have on-field but no way would I encourage our youngsters to look up to him. Doesn't he have big problems honouring contracts as well going off his past record?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 28, 2014 10:13 pm  

I guess Wayne Bennett must be wrong. Nobody is saying he has not been a muppet in the past, but given the respect he commands as a leader and mentor at Newcastle, having putting his hand up to making mistakes, who better to give advise to young players.

Very rarely are the best mentors those who have not been in strife at some point.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 28, 2014 10:56 pm  

jonh wrote:

I guess Wayne Bennett must be wrong. Nobody is saying he has not been a muppet in the past, but given the respect he commands as a leader and mentor at Newcastle, having putting his hand up to making mistakes, who better to give advise to young players.

Very rarely are the best mentors those who have not been in strife at some point.

You are mounting a spirited defence of Willie...you're not his agent are you?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:15 pm  

jonh wrote:

I guess Wayne Bennett must be wrong. Nobody is saying he has not been a muppet in the past, but given the respect he commands as a leader and mentor at Newcastle, having putting his hand up to making mistakes, who better to give advise to young players.

Very rarely are the best mentors those who have not been in strife at some point.

yes you could have something there ,perhaps we got rid of Mr Hock without considering his vast expertise and personal knowledge he could pass on to our young players

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:21 pm  

jonh wrote:

I guess Wayne Bennett must be wrong. Nobody is saying he has not been a muppet in the past, but given the respect he commands as a leader and mentor at Newcastle, having putting his hand up to making mistakes, who better to give advise to young players.

Very rarely are the best mentors those who have not been in strife at some point.

If those mistakes were behind him and he had stayed out of trouble for a few years I'd be more inclined to agree, but this DUI would indicate otherwise. The guy just doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes. Rather than 'putting his hand up' as you put it, he just seems to act like a tool safe in the knowledge he'll only ever get a slap on the wrists if he gets caught

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:45 am  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

You are mounting a spirited defence of Willie...you're not his agent are you?

I am presenting the current facts surrounding his attitude, influence and standing at a club coached by one of the keenest disciplinarians in the World. A club that he has proven his attitude at over the last 2 years.

What I am not doing is judging a player on headlines from years ago.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:59 am  

jonh wrote:

I am presenting the current facts surrounding his attitude, influence and standing at a club coached by one of the keenest disciplinarians in the World. A club that he has proven his attitude at over the last 2 years.

What I am not doing is judging a player on headlines from years ago.

But many are looking at headlines from years ago, and from a couple of days ago.... Salford would be a good fit for him... Would not touch him with a ten foot pole.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:31 am  

Wigan Peer wrote:

But many are looking at headlines from years ago, and from a couple of days ago.... Salford would be a good fit for him... Would not touch him with a ten foot pole.

If you look behind the story though you will see it is not in kind with his past problems.

Not condoning drink driving, but he went out got a taxi home, woke the next day drove and was found over the limit. Whilst a major mistake it is not a deliberate reckless action in my opinion.

The interesting thing is some of our finest role models in rugby league have been done for drink driving and their reputation does not seem to be tarnished during their career.

Either way. Given his form and the aggression and experience he has I think he would be a great addition. That being said it is not going to happen because regardless of the charge he gets the Knights will not be letting him go.