Bulldogs legend Willie Mason under investigation from NRL
Canterbury Bulldogs legend Willie Mason is the latest NRL great to be probed by the NRL as a league crackdown continues.
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Bulldogs legend Willie Mason has been issued with a please explain over his paid relationship with betting agency TAB.
Mason is currently working for the Bulldogs in a full-time capacity as an assistant coach and the Daily Telegraph reports the NRL Integrity unit is looking into his deal with TAB.
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The 42-year-old’s social media bio says he is a coach and ambassador for the Bulldogs, as well as a TAB ambassador. TAB also sponsors his podcast Levels.
Mason is often spotted in the Bulldogs’ changerooms before and after games.
A spokesman for the NRL told the Daily Telegraph: “The NRL is aware of the matter and is currently liaising with the Bulldogs.”
Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton said: “His role is in pathways but he works with the NRL squad to a lesser extent,” said Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton.
“We’ve passed his job description on to the NRL as per their request.”
It comes after Wests Tigers great Robbie Farah was forced to end his work with a bookmaking company because he also works at his former club as an assistant coach.
Laurie Daley was also prevented from joining Manly’s coaching staff because he works for the TAB network across radio and TV.
Mason, who played in Canterbury’s last NRL premiership in 2004, returned to the Bulldogs early last year.
He was appointed pathways transition coach, helping to develop NRL prospects into elite footballers.
Mason began his NRL career at the Bulldogs and quickly became a cult hero thanks to his hulking frame and physical style of play.
Between the early and mid 2000s, he was part of the club’s formidable forward pack that boasted the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan, Mark O’Meley and Roy Asotasi.
Mason won the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match in the Bulldogs’ last grand final win in 2004.
He is one of only three prop forwards ever to have won the award.
After 148 games with the Bulldogs, Mason plied his trade at the Roosters, Knights, Cowboys and Sea Eagles as well as in the Super League.
The Bulldogs have had a mixed start to this season to sit 12th on the ladder after six rounds.
They were thrashed 40-16 by South Sydney on Good Friday as a syndesmosis injury to Josh Addo-Carr added to the club’s injury woes.
Originally published as Bulldogs legend Willie Mason under investigation from NRL
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