Bad Billy
Kennel Immortal
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NEWCASTLE'S Willie Mason has been charged by police after being caught drink driving on his way to Knights training on Monday morning.
Mason, 33, was stopped for a random breath test and taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with a low-range offence.
The ex-Australian and Blues Origin star recorded a blood alchohol reading of 0.079 which is 0.029 over the legal limit.
Mason said is due to appear in court on February 20th, 2014 in relation to the charge.
The Knights have released a statement saying they will be making no further comment at this stage.
An NRL spokesman said the league's integrity unit was aware of the incident.
"They'll work through the proper processes with the Knights," he said.
He would not elaborate on whether disciplinary action would be taken against the club or Mason specifically.
Less than a week ago, Mason was launched as one of the faces of the upcoming Auckland Nines league tournament.
At the time, he spoke about trying to get league onto the world stage and into the Olympics as an official sport.
"They (Olympics organisers) might think it's just a thug's sport and a real brutal sport, but the Nines will show the skill level of some players and the athleticism," Mason said.
It is the second crisis for the Knights in the last few weeks following the jailing of and subsequent sacking of prop Russell Packer for assaulting a man outside a Sydney bar shortly after joining the club on a four-year contract.
Details also emerged on Sunday of exciting centre Dane Gagai, who joined Newcastle in 2012 after being sacked by Brisbane, going missing at an emerging Queensland Origin camp following a boozy night out.
The 23-year-old had a night out during the January 17-19 camp and didn't front for training the next day at the camp being run by Knights coach Wayne Bennett at the Queensland Academy of Sport in Brisbane.
Last year NSW prop James Tamou was suspended from an Origin game and fined $20,000 after also driving under the influence of alcohol.
Mason, 33, was stopped for a random breath test and taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with a low-range offence.
The ex-Australian and Blues Origin star recorded a blood alchohol reading of 0.079 which is 0.029 over the legal limit.
Mason said is due to appear in court on February 20th, 2014 in relation to the charge.
The Knights have released a statement saying they will be making no further comment at this stage.
An NRL spokesman said the league's integrity unit was aware of the incident.
"They'll work through the proper processes with the Knights," he said.
He would not elaborate on whether disciplinary action would be taken against the club or Mason specifically.
Less than a week ago, Mason was launched as one of the faces of the upcoming Auckland Nines league tournament.
At the time, he spoke about trying to get league onto the world stage and into the Olympics as an official sport.
"They (Olympics organisers) might think it's just a thug's sport and a real brutal sport, but the Nines will show the skill level of some players and the athleticism," Mason said.
It is the second crisis for the Knights in the last few weeks following the jailing of and subsequent sacking of prop Russell Packer for assaulting a man outside a Sydney bar shortly after joining the club on a four-year contract.
Details also emerged on Sunday of exciting centre Dane Gagai, who joined Newcastle in 2012 after being sacked by Brisbane, going missing at an emerging Queensland Origin camp following a boozy night out.
The 23-year-old had a night out during the January 17-19 camp and didn't front for training the next day at the camp being run by Knights coach Wayne Bennett at the Queensland Academy of Sport in Brisbane.
Last year NSW prop James Tamou was suspended from an Origin game and fined $20,000 after also driving under the influence of alcohol.
