Sonny Bill WILLIAMS [
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Mon June 8, 2009
by Matthew O'Neill
Out of form Sydney Roosters forward Willie Mason is set to quit the NRL according to news reports earlier tonight if he can negotiate a release to join a rugby union side in Europe or Japan.
Mason walked out halfway through a four-year deal with the Bulldogs to join the Roosters for the 2008 season on another four-year deal. Mason's time at the Roosters besides a great performance against his former club last year has been troubled highlighted by poor form on the field.
Recently Mason was photographed taking a leak outside an Eastern Suburbs nightclub and earlier in the year was relegated to the Newtown NSW Cup side for breaking the Roosters drinking curfew.
Mason's career has been colourful on and off the field and has been the NRL's walking headline since becoming a prominent playing during the Bulldogs 17-match winning run in 2002.
Throughout his career Mason has been thinking of such overseas fantasies such as playing NFL and entering Boxing ring, but this episode of escaping to Europe or Japan seems to be most genuine.
Mason is believed to have fallen out with Roosters coach Brad Fittler this year and previously Mason took aim at Steve Folkes, who was his only coach during his 148 first grade games for the Bulldogs.
The Roosters have struggled to perform this year and have been let down badly by many of their over-priced imports with the Bondi based club prepared to release him once Mason is set to sign with any rugby union.
According to people at the Sheaf in Double Bay on Saturday night, who witnessed Mason and Roosters forward Nick Kouparitsas partying following their 38-18 loss against Manly Mason was apparently telling people that he's Life Member at the Bulldogs, which that isn't the case. Mason has qualified for Life Membership based on two of the three playing qualifications as he played ten successive seasons of grade and he appeared in over 200 club games (148 first grade and 60 lower grades).
However, Mason is yet to be nominated for Life Membership and is unlikely to be when his professional career is over. Former Bulldogs players Corey Hughes and Brent Sherwin and current Bulldogs player Matt Utai all qualify for Life Membership under the three playing criteria's with Utai recently bringing up 200 club games. All three will be nominated for Life Membership once their professional careers are over with Utai and Sherwin certain to accept the honour.
The departure of Mason will open the door for the Roosters to sign Mason's former Bulldogs team-mate Sonny Bill Williams to join the glamour Bondi club.
Williams left the Bulldogs in controversial circumstances last year to play rugby union in France, but many cynics believed that he was bound for the Roosters via France and now a short career in Boxing.
The Bulldogs sensed this could have been the case and for Williams to move away from the Bulldogs inserted a deeds of release clause that meant Williams had to pay the Bulldogs compensation and can't play for another Rugby League club until 2013.
Williams issued one of the most fake apologies on national television two weeks ago with many believing the view that his aim was for the NRL to soften on his ban and allow him to return to the NRL prior to 2013 for a club that wasn't the Bulldogs.
Mason's pending release and the rumours of Stephen Kearney being linked to the Roosters coaching position should Fittler leave or be sacked adds fuel to the fire that Williams could be Bondi bound. Williams wanted Kearney as coach of the Bulldogs ahead of Kevin Moore and incumbent Folkes.
Two certainties in any possible Williams return to the NRL development is that the Bulldogs with Todd Greenberg in charge won't back down from the deeds of release agreement whereas the NRL with David Gallop in charge will back down and allow Williams to return prior to 2013.
Rleague.com exclusively predicted in early 2005 that Mason, Williams and Braith Anasta would one day play for the Roosters and whilst it may not be all alongside each other, the odds are shortening that all three will play for the Roosters before their careers are finished.
Fri April 24, 2009
by Matthew O'Neill
After yet another player controversy, this time involving the Penrith club, it's time for the leader of the NRL to be held accountable. No sport has had to endure the negative off-field headlines that the NRL has under the reign of David Gallop since 2002.
Despite this string of incidents, never at any stage has Gallop been made accountable or held to his responsibility for the image of the code. However, he has regularly been credited with the game's successes, including record crowd figures five years ago.
As Chief Executive of the NRL, Gallop is the figure responsible for the actions of the sixteen NRL clubs and the players in those clubs, and for the performance of match officials, crowd figures, sponsorship, popularity, and the like.
But his responses to player misbehaviour have been inconsistent, reactive, and at times hysterical.
He has given no impression of leadership on the issue, and clubs haven't felt empowered to tackle problems themselves.
When the NRL de-registered Greg Bird and Todd Carney from playing the 2009 season, it was one of the NRL's harsher penalties, but the ineffectiveness of the response is now seen with each weekend bringing a new drama.
One of the reasons drinking and anti-social behaviour amongst rugby league players generates so many headlines is because a reactive Gallop has regularly allowed molehills to be turned into mountains.
Leading player representatives have previous highlighted this apparent willingness to make a public show on player behaviour issues, rather than being tough but fair.
In the case of Dane Tilse, who was banned from the game in 2005 after a university dormitory rampage, Rugby League Professionals' Association president Butterfield questioned whether Tilse had received "procedural fairness" because of the "enormous pressure [on the Knights] from the NRL."
Similarly, when Sonny Bill Williams was arrested for relieving himself behind a tree in 2007, Gallop gave the sort of running commentary expected from a talkback host, rather than the constructive comments of a leader.
"He is inches from enough is enough ... he needs to be placed on a formal program to deal with his problems," he said.
If Gallop left the problem to the clubs, then the hysteria and fanfare wouldn't be so significant or dramatic, and the clubs could deal with the problems effectively.
People will blame the newspapers but when they turn to Gallop for a comment, he delivers with interest.
The punishment of Manly's Brett Stewart was another example of Gallop's hysteria.
Stewart, at the most, should have been stood down for one game, only to clear the air. Four weeks - which Gallop admitted was punishment for Stewart's drunkenness - was far too much.
Stewart has pleaded not guilty in court.
The Australian way has always been innocent before guilty. But in the NRL, it seems it's guilty before being innocent.
Gallop's inconsistency is not just in matters of player behaviour.
The handling of the Bulldogs two points issue - in which they were stripped for having fourteen players on the field - took over four weeks to 'resolve'. But a precedent was set by Gallop in 2004, 2007 and 2008 that fines, not loss of points, are the punishment for an extra player on the field.
Phil Gould in the Sun Herald more than a week ago stated that the Bulldogs should be fined and that in no way was the incident a form of cheating.
Rugby league is the best sport in the world, but it's also the worst administered.
The game needs a vibrant, strong and positive leader with vision, but also someone with an understanding of the game's traditions in New South Wales and Queensland who can take the game into a new era and stand up to the vested media interests clouding the game.
But Gallop hasn't been able to stand up to these interests, seen in poorly handled contract negotiations at all levels, the under-selling of the game's TV and new media rights, and not allowing the game to have full reach through radio and free to air television in Australia.
For off-field incidents that bring the game into disrepute, an independent judiciary should be set up to decide suspensions, much like the way the judiciary decides penalties for high tackles.
The onus to make decisions should be taken away from the clubs, unless they break the internal code of conduct, like the case of former Bulldog lock Reni Maitua. The leader of the game certainly shouldn't be making comments. He should be leaving things to the clubs and the independent judiciary panel.
Players today live in fantasyland from a young age. Player welfare is extremely important. But of greater importance is the leadership within our game.
The Penrith incident is the latest example of how the leadership is failing young players, and should be the final straw.
Changes must now take place.
Article can also be viewed at The Roar website - www.theroar.com.au.
======================================================================================================
 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership
Bulldogs
11 games; 4 tries, 16 points.
[View] Round 1 [15 Mar 08] L 20-28 v Eels (A). [SR]
[View] Round 3 [30 Mar 08] W 32-12 v Tigers (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 4 [04 Apr 08] L 12-40 v Roosters (H). [SR]
[View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] L 16-36 v Warriors (A). [SR]
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] W 30-18 v Dragons (H). [SR]
[View] Round 7 [26 Apr 08] L 22-30 v Sea Eagles (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [16 May 08] L 20-24 v Gold Coast (A). [SR]
[View] Round 11 [26 May 08] W 30-22 v Sharks (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 16 [27 Jun 08] L 14-24 v Roosters (A). [SR]
[View] Round 17 [07 Jul 08] L 30-34 v Rabbitohs (H). [SR]
[View] Round 18 [13 Jul 08] W 26-18 v Broncos (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
======================================================================================================
2008 International Test Matches
New Zealand
1 games; [View] Centenary Test [09 May 08] L 12-28 v Australia (A). [SR]
======================================================================================================
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership
Bulldogs
21 games; 14 tries, 56 points.
[View] Round 1 [18 Mar 07] L 24-25 v Knights (A). [SR]
[View] Round 4 [06 Apr 07] W 34-10 v Rabbitohs (A). [SR]
[View] Round 5 [14 Apr 07] L 14-16 v Sea Eagles (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t (42nd)
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 07] L 18-34 v Tigers (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [06 May 07] W 30-16 v Knights (H). [SR]
[View] Round 9 [14 May 07] L 14-38 v Storm (A). [SR]
[View] Round 10 [20 May 07] L 20-30 v Sharks (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 11 [25 May 07] L 16-26 v Cowboys (H). [SR]
[View] Round 12 [03 Jun 07] W 40-20 v Warriors (A). [LK] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 14 [15 Jun 07] L 12-19 v Broncos (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 07] W 27-8 v Sea Eagles (A). [SR]
[View] Round 16 [02 Jul 07] W 38-6 v Roosters (H). [SR] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 17 [08 Jul 07] W 14-12 v Sharks (A). [SR]
[View] Round 19 [20 Jul 07] W 36-12 v Gold Coast (A). [SR]
[View] Round 20 [28 Jul 07] W 28-24 v Dragons (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 21 [03 Aug 07] L 22-34 v Eels (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [12 Aug 07] W 52-4 v Raiders (H). [SR] 12 Pts; 3t
[View] Round 23 [17 Aug 07] W 25-24 v Broncos (A). [SR]
[View] Round 24 [24 Aug 07] L 6-38 v Storm (H). [SR]
[View] Round 25 [31 Aug 07] L 32-38 v Cowboys (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Finals Week 2 [15 Sep 07] L 6-25 v Eels. [SR]
======================================================================================================
2007 International Test Matches
New Zealand
1 games; [View] Bundaberg Rum Test [20 Apr 07] L 6-30 v Australia (A). [SR]
======================================================================================================
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership
Bulldogs
21 games; 8 tries, 32 points.
[View] Round 6 [17 Apr 06] W 26-18 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [23 Apr 06] L 14-40 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [30 Apr 06] W 30-16 v Warriors (A). [CT]
[View] Round 9 [07 May 06] W 30-14 v Roosters (A). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [14 May 06] W 22-18 v Eels (H). [CT]
[View] Round 11 [21 May 06] W 32-24 v Sharks (H). [SR]
[View] Round 12 [27 May 06] L 6-25 v Broncos (A). [CT]
[View] Round 13 [03 Jun 06] W 38-22 v Knights (H). [CT]
[View] Round 14 [12 Jun 06] L 26-28 v Raiders (H). [CT]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 06] W 20-12 v Cowboys (H). [CT]
[View] Round 16 [23 Jun 06] L 12-16 v Storm (A). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [02 Jul 06] W 32-10 v Tigers (A). [SR]
[View] Round 18 [09 Jul 06] W 22-18 v Warriors (H). [SR]
[View] Round 19 [14 Jul 06] W 22-16 v Dragons (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [22 Jul 06] W 25-0 v Roosters (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 06] W 54-14 v Cowboys (A). [BE] 8 Pts; 2t (65th)
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 06] W 26-10 v Dragons (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 25 [25 Aug 06] L 20-21 v Sea Eagles (A). [CT]
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 06] W 30-22 v Panthers (A). [CT]
[View] Finals Week One [09 Sep 06] W 30-12 v Raiders (H). [LK]
[View] Finals Week Three [22 Sep 06] L 20-37 v Broncos. [LK]
======================================================================================================
2006 International Test Matches
New Zealand
1 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Bundaberg Rum Test [05 May 06] L 12-50 v Australia (A). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t
======================================================================================================
2005 NRL Telstra Premiership
Bulldogs
5 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [11 Mar 05] W 46-28 v Dragons (H). [SR]
[View] Round 2 [18 Mar 05] L 12-24 v Cowboys (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (31st)
[View] Round 3 [27 Mar 05] L 36-37 v Tigers (A). [SR]
[View] Round 4 [03 Apr 05] L 12-26 v Sharks (A). [SR]
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 05] D 21-21 v Souths (H). [BE]
======================================================================================================
2004 NRL Telstra Premiership
Bulldogs
2 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [13 Mar 04] W 48-14 v Eels (H). [CT] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [20 Mar 04] W 24-20 v Sharks (H). [CT]
======================================================================================================
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Williams, Sonny Bill
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