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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012 / THETELEGRAPH.COM.AU /

LEAGUECENTRAL

Tigers say no to Willie

Larrikin forward almost out of options for a return to the NRL
DEAN RITCHIE
WESTS Tigers will today walk away from contract talks with Willie Mason possibly ending the former Test forwards career. After a week of negotiations with the clubs stakeholders, its understood that the Wests Tigers interest in Mason has reluctantly ended. Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys was expected to inform Masons manager, Sam Ayoub, of the clubs decision last night. Only 48 hours ago, the deal was just about done with an announcement expected sometime yesterday. However, several directors on the Wests Tigers board were not overly keen on signing Mason. With Wests Tigers to cease talks, Masons planned comeback to rugby league has now fallen flat given the Tigers were the only club genuine in signing the player. Penrith are still said to have remote interest although Newcastle have denied any link to the 32-year-old former Bulldogs, Roosters and Cowboys forward. The Daily Telegraph has been told Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens was keen to sign Mason to bolster his clubs depth up-front. Humphreys was left to make the final call but, after days of debate, opted against pursuing Mason. Mason and Wests Tigers Tigers management felt the clubs squeaky-clean image wasnt worth jeopardising by signing Mason. Mason was not asking for big money the deal said to be minimal. But Sheens has also maintained his club is right on the NRLs salary cap and also has no room to move in the Tigers second-tier salary cap. Some Balmain greats were also against signing Mason. Since Sheens took over at Concord back in 2003, Wests Tigers have built a relatively clean image. The club last year offloaded Robert Lui, who was yesterday placed on a twoyear good behaviour bond and fined $2000 after admitting to assaulting his girlfriend. Former Magpies halfback Tom Raudonikis was outspoken during the week and questioned why Wests Tigers would want Mason. I dont think (the Tigers) are that silly. Surely. Theyve got more sense than that, Raudonikis said. Mason has returned to Australia after a short and unsuccessful stint in French rugby union.
Mal Meninga yesterday

Mals Titans appeal

JASHVINA SHAH
QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga has implored the NRL commission to step in and save the Gold Coast as concern over the struggling clubs future intensifies. The Titans face problems regarding their multimillion-dollar debt and their property arm battling lawsuits in federal court. The Titans are struggling to attract the NRLs attention because of the leagues focus on the battle in western Sydney and the presence of Gold Coasts AFL team, the Suns. While Meninga said he does not know if the NRL is ignoring the Titans plight because of concerns with western Sydney, he hoped the commission would intervene on the Titans behalf. Im pretty sure they (commission) will be in the trenches with the Titans when its crunch time, so I would imagine they dont want them to not succeed, Meninga said at the State of Origins ticket sale launch yesterday. That support from the game itself might be a natural occurrence and the ARCL will get behind the Titans and make sure they survive in their competition. Meninga also said the Titans are important for rugby leagues survival in Queensland. We need Queensland clubs doing well in the competition and providing more opportunities for kids to play rugby league and stay in Queensland. It gets really important to our whole program, making sure that we still maintain the strength that we have at the moment up here with a lot of participation. So the Titans are really essential, or a third and fourth team are really essential to Queensland rugby league.

Willie Mason this week

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held a series of discussions with the two parties almost ready to announce a twoyear deal. Eventually though, Wests

Tony Williams nds it hard to smile during a team photo session yesterday. Picture Mark Evans

S TACKLE A SEND-OFF WHY WASNT T-REX

DEAN RITCHIE
NRL referees coach Bill Harrigan last night claimed he would have applauded had Manly forward Tony Williams been sent off for a dangerous throw on Monday night. Williams yesterday pleaded guilty to the dangerous tackle on Cronulla hooker Isaac De Gois and will miss seven NRL games. The suspension all but ends Williams hopes of playing Origin I for NSW and will damage Manlys chances of winning back-to-back titles.
D

Williams issued a statement yesterday saying: Im extremely disappointed. There was no malice or intent in the tackle. Harrigan yesterday said he supported the decision by referees Ben Cummins and Gerard Sutton to penalise Williams and place him on report but would also have agreed with a send-off. I told the two referees in our weekly debrief that I hadnt seen a tackle like that in a long, long time, Harrigan said. I would have applauded them if they had sent Williams off. Im happy with the reporting system and the use of it by the referees (on Monday night).

But if they had sent him off, I wouldnt have had any problem whatsoever. It wasnt a pretty tackle and, at a minimum, they should have penalised him and put him on report. But a sendoff was certainly an option. Williams suspension comes as Manly attempt to overcome the loss through injury of Test players Glenn Stewart and Steve Matai. Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey yesterday questioned the grade four charge issued to Williams. Im shocked by the severity of the charge, Toovey said. No, its not the loading, just the grading of the whole incident. I think its way over the mark, but thats only my opinion.

Personally, the penalty is very, very severe and way over-balanced for the incident. Manly co-skipper Jason King said: The tackle was an accident and he isnt a malicious player. NSW coach Ricky Stuart could not be pinned down about whether Williams would be picked for Origin I. The giant forward returns just one game before the side is selected. Its a long time from now to the Origin, Stuart said. It depends what type of training he does or how fit he is, so its very hard to answer that. Blues skipper Paul Gallen supported Williams. Hes just a big, strong bloke and is just starting to realise who he can be, Gallen said.

TICKET SALE FOR ORIGIN II

TICKETS to the State of Origin series second game at ANZ Stadium go on sale today at 10am. Tickets for the match on June 13 are open to the general public and can be purchased through Ticketek. The first match of the State of Origin series will be held at Melbournes Etihad Stadium on May 23 and the last match will be played at Brisbanes Suncorp Stadium on July 4.