Catalans bring in Willie Mason

Catalans have confirmed the signing of former Australia prop Willie Mason on a one-year deal.

Mason, 35, has made 300 appearances in the NRL and had a short spell in Super League with Hull KR back in 2011.

Dragons head coach Laurent Frayssinous said :”I have never hidden from the fact that I wanted to strengthen our pack. Negotiations with Willie have been long, as in one hand, we had to settle his administrative situation and in the other, find a financial agreement. 

“We always set a rule to not spend the money that we do not have and we had to find a compromise with Willie and his agent. Willie is a player who knows the job a prop has to do. He is a physical and aggressive player, both in attack and in defence and we have spoken a lot about the quality of our group and he is really excited to join the club.”

Mason won the Clive Churchill Medal for man of the match in the 2004 Grand Final win with the Bulldogs and represented the Kangaroos 24 times, as well as playing State of Origin for New South Wales.

As well as Canterbury, he played for Sydney Roosters, North Queensland Cowboys, Newcastle Knights and Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL.