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Reports Sydney Roosters are looking to cut Willie Mason
By Peter Kogoy and Stuart Honeysett
October 07, 2009 .Willie Mason's playing days at the Sydney Roosters appear over as the club is looking to cut the Test and State of Origin star within days.
Mason has been offered $100,000 to "go away".
One of the highest-paid players at the club, Mason is contracted until the end of next season.
A Roosters insider told The Australian newspaper on Tuesday the club was desperate to get rid of Mason.
"The board of directors unanimously want him out of the club," the source said.
"Seeing him play rugby union in Japan isn't far enough away."
New coach Brian Smith, who joined the Roosters from Newcastle Knights two months ago, had what was described as a "stern chat" to Mason.
Another source said: "Brian Smith clearly wants him out of the place before pre-season training officially starts in less than two weeks.
"The bottom line is Smith wants a clean, fresh start and doesn't see Mason as part of his plans."
Rumours Mason was unwanted at Bondi Junction first surfaced within days of former coach Brad Fittler's axing and the announcement of Smith's appointment on a multi-year, multi-million deal.
Club chairman Nick Politis flew to Europe on business on Tuesday and was not available to return phone calls. If Mason is eased out as expected, it will leave the club with enough money under the salary cap to entice former Test frontrower Jason Ryles back from French Super League club Catalans Dragons.
Ryles had previously played in the NRL with St George Illawarra.
The Roosters are also ready to cut ties with troubled New Zealand international Setaimata Sa who was last month charged with assaulting a female police officer, resisting arrest, failing to leave licensed premises and damaging property following an allegedly alcohol-fuelled incident at a Sydney hotel.
It also heightens speculation the club will also have enough money to tempt sacked Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri back to the game. Tuqiri's management embarked on a public relations campaign with the former Test rugby player after a possible move to French rugby club Bayonne went nowhere.
Tuqiri has been searching for a new home since the Australian Rugby Union terminated his contract for breach of contract.
The Fijian-born winger, who played as an amateur with West Harbour in the Sydney club competition, eventually settled out of court with the ARU.
As late as last Saturday Tuqiri said he was still considering "one or two options".
The Roosters are understood to have offered Tuqiri's management a back-ended contract that would see him earn about $120,000 in 2010, with a significant increase in the following seasons.
"What he is worth and what he can earn are two different things," Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan said, when he confirmed the club's interest in the vastly experienced dual international.
"He's been an amazing player over the years so I'm sure any club would be interested in him."
The Mason news is yet another in a string of negative stories linked to the club.
The Roosters have been caught up in allegations their final game of the season, against North Queensland at the Sydney Football Stadium on September 6, was compromised by a betting plunge.
The rumours prompted club chairman Politis to contact the NRL over reports of a NSW Police probe over the alleged betting scam in his club's final home game of the regular season.
By Peter Kogoy and Stuart Honeysett
October 07, 2009 .Willie Mason's playing days at the Sydney Roosters appear over as the club is looking to cut the Test and State of Origin star within days.
Mason has been offered $100,000 to "go away".
One of the highest-paid players at the club, Mason is contracted until the end of next season.
A Roosters insider told The Australian newspaper on Tuesday the club was desperate to get rid of Mason.
"The board of directors unanimously want him out of the club," the source said.
"Seeing him play rugby union in Japan isn't far enough away."
New coach Brian Smith, who joined the Roosters from Newcastle Knights two months ago, had what was described as a "stern chat" to Mason.
Another source said: "Brian Smith clearly wants him out of the place before pre-season training officially starts in less than two weeks.
"The bottom line is Smith wants a clean, fresh start and doesn't see Mason as part of his plans."
Rumours Mason was unwanted at Bondi Junction first surfaced within days of former coach Brad Fittler's axing and the announcement of Smith's appointment on a multi-year, multi-million deal.
Club chairman Nick Politis flew to Europe on business on Tuesday and was not available to return phone calls. If Mason is eased out as expected, it will leave the club with enough money under the salary cap to entice former Test frontrower Jason Ryles back from French Super League club Catalans Dragons.
Ryles had previously played in the NRL with St George Illawarra.
The Roosters are also ready to cut ties with troubled New Zealand international Setaimata Sa who was last month charged with assaulting a female police officer, resisting arrest, failing to leave licensed premises and damaging property following an allegedly alcohol-fuelled incident at a Sydney hotel.
It also heightens speculation the club will also have enough money to tempt sacked Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri back to the game. Tuqiri's management embarked on a public relations campaign with the former Test rugby player after a possible move to French rugby club Bayonne went nowhere.
Tuqiri has been searching for a new home since the Australian Rugby Union terminated his contract for breach of contract.
The Fijian-born winger, who played as an amateur with West Harbour in the Sydney club competition, eventually settled out of court with the ARU.
As late as last Saturday Tuqiri said he was still considering "one or two options".
The Roosters are understood to have offered Tuqiri's management a back-ended contract that would see him earn about $120,000 in 2010, with a significant increase in the following seasons.
"What he is worth and what he can earn are two different things," Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan said, when he confirmed the club's interest in the vastly experienced dual international.
"He's been an amazing player over the years so I'm sure any club would be interested in him."
The Mason news is yet another in a string of negative stories linked to the club.
The Roosters have been caught up in allegations their final game of the season, against North Queensland at the Sydney Football Stadium on September 6, was compromised by a betting plunge.
The rumours prompted club chairman Politis to contact the NRL over reports of a NSW Police probe over the alleged betting scam in his club's final home game of the regular season.
I reiterate again, the club have always said to mason that if he found another contract, he can go. So there is really nothing new in the article.
But thinking about this, would a concerted push to remove mason from the club be a ploy to avoid the investigation into the match fixing????
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