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Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler says sayonara to Willie Mason
By James Phelps
June 16, 2009
First it was boxing, then NFL, and now Willie Mason wants to quit the NRL to play rugby union in Japan.
The controversial career of Mason is poised to fade away in the Land of the Rising Sun with Brad Fittler last week giving the 115kg behemoth permission to negotiate with Japanese rugby clubs.
In a frank discussion at Mason's Eastern Suburbs home, Fittler told the premiership-winning forward he would not stop him from quitting the final year of his contract after learning Japanese rugby clubs are willing to pay him up to $700,000 a year.
"He told Freddy he could earn double what he is currently on in Japan," a Roosters insider said.
"And Freddy said he understood that he needs to make the most of his earning capacity and he said he wouldn't stop him. He told him could leave if he wanted to."
Roosters CEO Steve Noyce confirmed the meeting between Mason and Fittler took place last Wednesday night, but said he did not know what transpired inside Mason's multi-million-dollar beachside home.
"I know that Freddy had a meeting with Willie last week," Noyce said.
"I don't really know what happened because Freddy was telling me more about short-term stuff because Willie didn't play last weekend.
"I would be lying if I understood what was happening with the other stuff. The player signed before I got here and it was a three-year deal.
"A contract is a contract and I can't say he won't see it out."
Mason told teammates he would not be at the club next year should his manager Greg Keenan present him with a genuine offer from a Japanese rugby club.
It is believed that Keenan, the mastermind behind former Cronulla player Fraser Anderson's $400,000 deal with Kobe, is in talks with a number of clubs in Japan that have shown strong interest in Mason.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018866,00.html
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