Willie Mason keen to play on in 2016, says NRL is too sanitised

WILLIE Mason is keen to play on in 2016 but has warned that the NRL is becoming too robotic and sanitised.

Willie Mason during Manly Sea Eagles training at the Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen. pic Mark Evans

AT LEAST two Sydney-based NRL clubs have expressed interest in recruiting big Willie Mason for next season.

And while Mason would love one more year in Sydney, he’s also mindful about the future of the local game becoming too ‘’sanitised’’.

Mason was vocal at the time when the shoulder charge was stamped out, only to be later charged with that very offence and forced to miss Manly’s final-round game.

“In a perfect world I’d like another year in the NRL, but (I don’t know) with the way it’s getting, and how it’s sanitised and quite methodical and robotic, all these words you want to use,’’ Mason said yesterday.

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“Everyone does the same play, it depends if you can do it better.

“Over in the Super League, you can still get away with a fair bit.

“There are a few offers here, a few offers overseas. I want to stay in Sydney.

“There’s Sydney interest, it just depends if I want to play for them or not - there are some clubs you just don’t want to play for.’’

At 35, Mason can still match it with the best, and remains one of the real characters of the game who does wonders for team morale.

Mason is aiming to play a 16th season in the NRL.

He’s had his share of clubs, including the Bulldogs — a club he won the 2004 title with — and the Sydney Roosters.

As for Friday’s Roosters-Bulldogs clash, Mason said his ‘’heart’s with the Dogs’’, but the Roosters were hard to go past.

“The Dogs would have to play a 10-out-of-10 game to beat these guys,’’ Mason said.

“I played against both sides this year, and when the Roosters are on, they’re unstoppable. Their power game, their line speed ... you get out there and it’s just one guy after another coming at you.

“Some teams might field 15 good players and two who might not do much, but they’ve got 17 players of non-stop hitting who run straight and run hard.’’