Rookie Waratahs playmaker Mack Mason targets Bernard Foley after re-signing for two years

MACK Mason spent his childhood holding a chainsaw for 12 hours a day. Now he wants to cut down Australia’s premier playmaker.

Waratahs Mack Mason. Picture: Jenny Evans

MACK Mason plans to dethrone Bernard Foley as the Waratahs’ No.10.

The 22-year-old is so confident, he’s knocked back rival franchises where he’d get an easier ride to the starting spot, to re-sign with NSW for a further two years.

It’s a grand ambition to usurp the Wallabies five-eighth at NSW, but when Mason explains his history in the small farming town of Dunkeld in Queensland, it is abundantly clear that there’s no quit in him.

“When I was 10, we were in the cattle yards working for dad, cutting down trees to feed the cattle if it was dry, working hard was instilled in me at a young age,’ Mason said.

“You’d get up at 4am, go work outside all day with a chainsaw cutting down Mulga trees to feed cattle, you’d do that from 4am until sunset, 5pm or 6pm every day, depending on how long it doesn’t rain for.

“It can be for eight months, 12 months, it could be two years. It’s just really hard work, you’re a 12-year-old walking around all day cutting down trees in the sun, 40 degrees.

“It instils good habits, but at the time it wasn’t very enjoyable.

“My parents had to get through it, they’re the ones feeding the kids, making sure we’re all good.

“Looking back on it, yeah, it gave me resilience. That’s helped me in the long run, I know hard work pays off.”

Waratahs player Mack Mason (right) with younger brother Jake at the family’s Queensland cattle farm 10 years ago.

Mack Mason today. Picture: Jenny Evans

Mason grew up in Dunkeld, an hour south of Mitchell where the nearest shop is. The local school had seven students, of which three were Mason and younger brothers Jake and Kane.

His parents Ben and Petra still live on the 80,000-acre property.

Mason says once his rugby career finishes he’ll also return to help on the farm.

For now, he’s got his eyes firmly fixed on Foley’s jersey.

“Behind Bernard Foley, it tests him, it tests me,’ Mason said.

“I definitely feel that (I can overtake him), I have to feel that to be able to take his spot and be as good as him, if not better.

“I always believe I can take his spot, each week I show up on Monday believing that.

“As a No. 10 you also want good people outside you to make you perform at your best.

“I haven’t had much game time (playing two Super Rugby games in two seasons) but I’ve progressed as a football player here a lot, working behind Bernard and with the coaches and players around me.

“I’d like more game time, signing for another two years will allow me to keep pushing for the game time and I love the challenge.

“I’ve got to keep making him feel like he’s under pressure. That will make him better and make me better in the long run.

“I’m confident in my ability and the coaches picking the right players.”

Mason captained the 2014 GPS-winning Anglican Church Grammar School team that went through that season undefeated and featured NRL stars Kalyn Ponga and Brodie Croft, as well as brilliant Queensland Reds winger Izaia Perese.

Originally published as Rookie Waratahs playmaker Mack Mason targets Bernard Foley after re-signing for two years