Near the entrance of the Bronte gym, where Willie Mason is training for a possible yet uncertain NRL comeback, a thick black inscription can be found.
“HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED?”
The inscription is signed by Mason’s former Bulldogs teammate Reni Maitua, who overcame a two-year drug suspension, returning not only to play but also signing a three-year contract with Parramatta last year.
Each time Mason steps out after a training session in exile, those words likely resonate with him.
With the Tigers’ directors putting a stop to the idea of signing the controversial player, Mason’s options seem to have nearly vanished. Supporters are more focused on tearing up their memberships than on addressing the front-row crisis.
If Mason manages to secure an NRL contract at the last minute on match payments, he will be joining his sixth club in just over four years.
The Roosters are probably consulting Sonny Bill Williams about his desired legacy as they finalize the details of his contract—if he signs, it would mark his fifth club within four years.
He, too, has been linked to the Tigers; however, that interest is believed to have cooled. If he returns to league, it’s likely to be with the Roosters.
The only remaining question is the duration of the contract, which appears to be the main hurdle.
While Williams’ manager, Khoder Nasser, is seeking a one-year deal, the Roosters favor a lifetime commitment to their club from him.
This principle is consistent with Nasser’s approach to another star client, Quade Cooper, whose last two contracts with the ARU have only been for one year.
Nasser, who was seen having lunch with NRL CEO David Gallop last week, aims to secure the best outcomes for his clients.
Despite the Euro’s weakness, he continues to discuss the possibility of French rugby union clubs wanting to offer Sonny significant sums.
Nevertheless, a footballer eventually might want to view their career as more than merely seizing every dollar available while their body permits.
There are considerations about representative football, premierships, and being a player who contributes meaningfully to their club and their own legacy.
Take a look at where relentlessly chasing money has led Mason and Sonny.
Both secured a premiership together in 2004 with the Bulldogs, but when Mason departed for the Roosters in 2007, it infuriated Williams, who perceived it as a lack of loyalty.
“I was offered double what I’m on at Canterbury to go somewhere else and I stayed because I wanted to stay loyal to the club and keep the boys around. I had so much respect for him. My respect for him has diminished,” Williams stated back then.
Then, the following year, Williams left as well. Since that point, their careers have taken on a wandering and indirect nature.
Nasser has positioned Williams similarly to how Anthony Mundine has made his mark:
controversial, defiant against the establishment, proving naysayers—often termed “haters” today—wrong.
That strategy resonates in boxing, where fans pay to witness their defeat. However, in team sports, respect and admiration for a player are essential.
Another saying adorns the wall of the Bronte gym.
“IT’S NOT WHERE YOU START BUT WHERE YOU FINISH”.
Mason has nearly lost his control over that narrative, whereas Williams still retains some influence regarding how he will be remembered.
by Buford Balony
