Roosters set to release Mason as they Circle SBW

[Foordy]

Out of form Sydney Roosters forward Willie Mason is set to quit the NRL according to news reports earlier tonight if he can negotiate a release to join a rugby union side in Europe or Japan.

Mason walked out halfway through a four-year deal with the Bulldogs to join the Roosters for the 2008 season on another four-year deal. Mason's time at the Roosters besides a great performance against his former club last year has been troubled highlighted by poor form on the field.

Recently Mason was photographed taking a leak outside an Eastern Suburbs nightclub and earlier in the year was relegated to the Newtown NSW Cup side for breaking the Roosters drinking curfew.

................

The departure of Mason will open the door for the Roosters to sign Mason's former Bulldogs team-mate Sonny Bill Williams to join the glamour Bondi club.

Williams left the Bulldogs in controversial circumstances last year to play rugby union in France, but many cynics believed that he was bound for the Roosters via France and now a short career in Boxing.

The Bulldogs sensed this could have been the case and for Williams to move away from the Bulldogs inserted a deeds of release clause that meant Williams had to pay the Bulldogs compensation and can't play for another Rugby League club until 2013.

Williams issued one of the most fake apologies on national television two weeks ago with many believing the view that his aim was for the NRL to soften on his ban and allow him to return to the NRL prior to 2013 for a club that wasn't the Bulldogs.

Mason's pending release and the rumours of Stephen Kearney being linked to the Roosters coaching position should Fittler leave or be sacked adds fuel to the fire that Williams could be Bondi bound. Williams wanted Kearney as coach of the Bulldogs ahead of Kevin Moore and incumbent Folkes.

Two certainties in any possible Williams return to the NRL development is that the Bulldogs with Todd Greenberg in charge won't back down from the deeds of release agreement whereas the NRL with David Gallop in charge will back down and allow Williams to return prior to 2013.

http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=33470

I'm not sure how they Roosters will be able to sign SBW given that the clause in his release states that he is unable to play for another NRL clube before 2013. eusa_think Having said that i reckon that releasing Mason is a good move by the Roosters, IMO, Mason is an over-rated, over-paid hack

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

i love seeing nsw players not live up to potential.

 

[broncosil]

I thought SBW wasn't allowed to play for another club. Also he would be taking a significant pay cut, why would he come back to RL?

Mason can piss off for all I care, he was a 'never was'. Never lived up to the hype and is yet anothe player to add to the list of disappointing NSW players that should of made it big. Anasta being another example.

 

[Kimlo]

What an outstanding article.... NOT
This article is pure rubbish with baseless speculation.
and oh

"According to people at the Sheaf in Double Bay on Saturday night, who witnessed Mason and Roosters forward Nick Kouparitsas partying following their 38-18 loss against Manly Mason was apparently telling people that he's Life Member at the Bulldogs, which that isn't the case."

LOL.

 

[Flutterby]

LOL. I don't believe for a second that the Roosters are circling for SBW. But if they were and if he was able to play for them - doesn't show much in the way of brains down Bondi way - replace one over-rated forward who walked out on his former club halfway through a contract, with another over-rated forward who walked out his (same) former club halfway through a contract.

 

[Kaz]

Matthew O'Neil wrote this, the owner of rleague.

LMAO

 

[Nashy]

So.... What?

 

[Kaz]

He is a goose.

As stated SBW can't play for another club until about 2012

 

[Nashy]

Because players can't appeal such decisions of course.

But yes, calling someone something without actually proving it.

 

[Foordy]

Because players can't appeal such decisions of course.

But yes, calling someone something without actually proving it.

the problem is his release is a contract and the Bulldogs are too pissed off with him to let him out of it [icon_lol1.

 

[Kimlo]

Because players can't appeal such decisions of course.

But yes, calling someone something without actually proving it.

um no.
This isn't a "decision" this is a contract which he signed and paid close to a million for it too. Contracts might not mean much to SBW but the power here lies with the bulldogs not SBW and unless roosters want to pay a million or half a million to the dogs then it's not going to happen.

 

[Nashy]

It didn't take them long to pen this 'contract' under the circumstances.

I think SBW can afford an expensive lawyer that will all but rip that contract to shreds if they wanted to.

 

[Foordy]

It didn't take them long to pen this 'contract' under the circumstances.

I think SBW can afford an expensive lawyer that will all but rip that contract to shreds if they wanted to.

But he would still be barred from playing with the Roosters until the matter went before the courts

 

[mrslong]

He is a goose.

smartest thing you've ever said. [icon_lol1.

Matt0 has ridiculous pro-Bulldogs and anti-Roosters agendas all over the place. :roll:

 

[Coxy]

Not to mention anti-Bulldogs NRL conspiracy paranoia.

 

[Blondie]

Roosters would be stupid to pay money for him.I hope this is just a myth.

 

[ningnangnong]

Craig Wing could be on his way back to the Roosters.

 

[Blondie]

that would be good news... he played best with us.