Willie Mason

Profile

Willie Mason was signed by the Hunter Marines in 1997 and played in the lower grades until the club became defunct at the end of the year.

In 1998 he signed with the Bulldogs and played in the under-18s Jersey Flegg competition however in 1999 he fractured his leg before the Grand Final win. In 2000 he made is debut in round 13 of the NRL season making his debut for the Bulldogs against Penrith Panthers after first grader Darren Britt suffered an injury.

Mason made his international debut for Tonga in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.

He missed out on the opportunity to win a Minor Premiership after the Bulldogs were found guilty of serious and systemic breaches of the salary cap in 2002.

In 2004 the Bulldogs reached the 2004 NRL Grand Final and triumphed 16-13 over the Sydney Roosters, however he was out of the action during the first half of the 2005 NRL season and did not play until he played in the 2005 Tri-nations tournament.

In December 2006 Mason took part in a trial with the New York Jets but still maintained he would fulfil his contract with the Bulldogs until the end of the 2009 season.

On 15th November 2007 Mason signed a three-year deal with Sydney Roosters and was named in both the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and the Tonga training squad. But in the final regular game of the season he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and did not take part in the Roosters Finals Campaign. Mason was told he was no longer needed at the Roosters after Brian Smith took over the coaching role.

Mason agreed a one-year contract on 5th February 2010 with the North Queensland Cowboys, he made in debut off the bench in a 30-24 loss to the Broncos in Round one.

In September 2011 Mason signed a three-year contract with Hull Kingston Rovers pending a successful working visa application but six months into his contract Hull KR were forced to release him as he was unable to obtain a Tongan passport.

Mason signed to rugby union side Toulon in April 2011 and in June he was selected to play for Barbarian FC from the interchange bench in their victory against Wales.

Mason signed to Newcastle Knights on 18th April 2012 and made his debut in round 8 in the defeat to Penrith Panthers. On 15th November 2012, he re-signed with the Knights for two years.