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Hobby days over - Willie vows to rebuild his game
Adrian Proszenko | October 7, 2007
WILLIE Mason has pledged to totally overhaul his game and persona after surviving the axe for the one-off Test against New Zealand, declaring: "I'm going to be a whole new person".
Mason admitted he had become complacent in recent seasons, and took personal responsibility for the Bulldogs' dramatic crash out of play-off contention. The 27-year-old said it was time to stop treating football like a "hobby" and vowed to re-invent himself as a player and person over the off-season.
"Coming into next year, I'm really looking forward to it - I'm going to be a whole new person, totally redefine my game; think about the game a lot more," Mason told The Sun-Herald yesterday. "I've fallen into that trap of just treating it like a hobby, just cruising through and still making all those rep teams. Almost missing out on this team has really made me snap out of it and get Willie Mason back to where he was.
"I have to take responsibility. If I didn't get picked I would have copped it on the chin and not whinged. It would have been my fault. It's a bit of a wake-up call and I need to step my game up.
"With the Bulldogs I probably got a bit lazy with setting goals and was more relaxed before games. I was taking it easy and was letting my natural ability get me through.
"I've got a lot more football in me than what I showed on the field with the Bulldogs. To go to that next level I need to be totally focused by living and breathing football.
"Playing front row has left me one-dimensional. Even if you're Superman, you can't bash through four blokes. You have to play smarter and use your brain more."
Mason said he needed to bring the same intensity to club football that he displayed at Test level under Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart. He said the Kiwis would get a glimpse of the "new Willie Mason" at Westpac Stadium in Wellington next Sunday.
"I really enjoy playing under Ricky. He seems to bring the best football out of me and I want to do that every week," Mason said.
"It comes with really focusing on every single game. From now on I'm going to be writing down my goals and concentrating on every single game."
Adrian Proszenko | October 7, 2007
WILLIE Mason has pledged to totally overhaul his game and persona after surviving the axe for the one-off Test against New Zealand, declaring: "I'm going to be a whole new person".
Mason admitted he had become complacent in recent seasons, and took personal responsibility for the Bulldogs' dramatic crash out of play-off contention. The 27-year-old said it was time to stop treating football like a "hobby" and vowed to re-invent himself as a player and person over the off-season.
"Coming into next year, I'm really looking forward to it - I'm going to be a whole new person, totally redefine my game; think about the game a lot more," Mason told The Sun-Herald yesterday. "I've fallen into that trap of just treating it like a hobby, just cruising through and still making all those rep teams. Almost missing out on this team has really made me snap out of it and get Willie Mason back to where he was.
"I have to take responsibility. If I didn't get picked I would have copped it on the chin and not whinged. It would have been my fault. It's a bit of a wake-up call and I need to step my game up.
"With the Bulldogs I probably got a bit lazy with setting goals and was more relaxed before games. I was taking it easy and was letting my natural ability get me through.
"I've got a lot more football in me than what I showed on the field with the Bulldogs. To go to that next level I need to be totally focused by living and breathing football.
"Playing front row has left me one-dimensional. Even if you're Superman, you can't bash through four blokes. You have to play smarter and use your brain more."
Mason said he needed to bring the same intensity to club football that he displayed at Test level under Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart. He said the Kiwis would get a glimpse of the "new Willie Mason" at Westpac Stadium in Wellington next Sunday.
"I really enjoy playing under Ricky. He seems to bring the best football out of me and I want to do that every week," Mason said.
"It comes with really focusing on every single game. From now on I'm going to be writing down my goals and concentrating on every single game."