Mason makes feisty start at Cowboys

He's back.
Following months of uncertainty, Willie Mason officially announced his NRL return at
Townsville on Tuesday after accepting a lifeline from North Queensland.
And the results could only be described as classic Mason.
At his first press conference in Cowboys colours, Mason took a shot at the "fat
businessmen" at other NRL clubs who knocked back his services before claiming he had
been "character assassinated" by the Sydney media.
But the 24-Test veteran made it clear that there would be "no excuses" if he did not
make his move north a success in 2010.
Mason, 29, admitted that he had purposely signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys to
put pressure on himself.
"When you are under pressure, and your livelihood is on the line ... I have never
been in that position before," Mason said.
"I am interested to see what I have got."
Last season Mason was much maligned in a disastrous year for the Sydney Roosters as
he returned from a knee reconstruction.
But Mason said history showed players coming back from the major operation could
reclaim their form in their second year back.
"Have a look at (Mark) Gasnier and Hodgo (Justin Hodges) ... their second year is
much better because they are confident," he said.
"I was just happy to get through each game last year.
"By the back end of the year I was playing some alright football, I thought I was
holding my own out there.
"This year there is no holding back, I will be coming out of the blocks 100 per cent.
"I've got no excuses this year.
"I will be fit, I will be ready to go - nothing is going to stop me from playing
good football."
While he admitted he "wasn't the player he once was" last year due to the knee
operation, Mason was still angry that every NRL club except Newcastle and North
Queensland snubbed him when he was offered up by the Roosters.
"When you look at it, you've got the coach, most senior players and CEOs coming out
saying 'yeah we want him at our club', but it gets to a board meeting and you've got
fat businessmen making decisions on your career," he said.
"It wasn't taking on a toll on my pride or anything, it made me angry a little bit."
Mason also had a beef with the Sydney media, saying he did not know where the "NRL
bad boy" tag had come from.
"It was a bit of a joke wasn't it," he said of his portrayal in the media.
"It was a bit frustrating at the end ... the media pretty much character
assassinated me.
"I was perceived as a monster really.
"But I never assaulted women, been done for DUI, I haven't done anything - my
conscious is clear."
Mason admitted late interest from Newcastle - where his little brother Rodney plays
- "made me second guess" his move.
But after being warmly embraced by Townsville people on the street since his arrival
on Monday, Mason was primed to chime into a "pretty scary pack" at the Cowboys.
That could be as early as next week in a trial against the New Zealand Warriors in
Cairns.
He said success for the Cowboys could even help retain skipper Johnathan Thurston
who is considering a code switch.
"If we have success this year no one will want to go anywhere," Mason said.