Willie Mason joins mates at Cowboys

DALLAS KILPONEN/SMH

FREE WILLIE: Willie Mason has signed to played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the 2010 NRL season.

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Willie Mason chose North Queensland over Newcastle as his new home this season because he believes the Cowboys have more chance of winning the premiership.

Mason, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys, was also swayed by the fact that three of his former Bulldogs teammates, Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga and Ben Harris, play for the club.

The former Test forward is expected to arrive in Townsville today to finalise the move after last night advising Newcastle officials of his decision.

It is understood that the Knights had more room under the salary cap to accommodate Mason and were prepared to offer him a two-year deal but the chance to win another grand final was a stronger attraction for the 2004 Clive Churchill Medal winner.

Even the opportunity to return home to Newcastle, where his family lives, and play alongside 18-year-old brother Rodney - a member of the Knights NYC squad - was not as powerful a lure for Mason, who will be motivated this season by his desire to prove a point to the Sydney Roosters officials who no longer wanted him at the club.

He will receive a pay-out from the Roosters but the club has indicated it expects to make a substantial saving by releasing him from his $400,000-a-season contract.

Having already earned $100,000 for the three months he has been told to stay away from the club on extended leave, Mason is likely to receive a similar amount as his settlement.

But he will almost certainly have to accept a reduction in earnings this season as the Cowboys are understood to have little more than $60,000 to offer him.

With Thurston, the Kangaroos halfback and Cowboys captain, off contract at the end of the season and attracting interest from rugby union, North Queensland officials were not believed to be in a position to offer Mason a long-term deal.

However, Mason believes a big year with the Cowboys will ensure he is in demand for 2011 after initially struggling to find a new club when it was made clear he had no future at the Roosters.

After agreeing to a two-year deal with the Storm, News Ltd officials ruled against the premiers signing him and St George Illawarra, Cronulla and Manly also backed away after expressing interest.

There were suggestions last night that the strict behavioural clauses the Knights wanted to include in Mason's contract may have played a role in turning him away, although Newcastle officials were confident that the environment at the club would be ideal for him.

Despite not having trained with the Roosters since the end of last season, Mason has been working with a personal trainer to keep fit.

He is expected to play in the Cowboys' pre-season trials and will press for selection in their opening-round clash with Brisbane.

- © Fairfax NZ News