WILLIE Mason has flown to Japan to negotiate with cashed-up rugby union clubs and will miss the Sydney Roosters' official return to training today.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Mason was granted a week's leave by Roosters management to travel overseas with his manager Greg Keenan. Mason flew into Tokyo over the weekend but will return for the Roosters training session on November 9.
Should Mason obtain a deal in Japan, it is understood he would be released from the final year of his Roosters contract. It is understood Mason asked the Roosters for seven days of "personal leave''.
The Roosters' approval of Mason's request was seen as another indication the club was looking to offload the former NSW and Test star. Keenan was not answering his calls last night while Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce was not commenting on Mason.
Mason's former Australian teammate, Craig Wing, signed with a Japanese rugby union club this year for a reported $700,000 a season and the Roosters forward would command similar money.
NRL clubs are slowly returning for pre-season training, with the Roosters, Souths and New Zealand Warriors getting back to work today. Newcastle, Penrith, Wests Tigers and Canberra also return this week.
"We don't need any motivation after the season we just had - it was a disaster,'' Roosters skipper Braith Anasta said
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Mason was granted a week's leave by Roosters management to travel overseas with his manager Greg Keenan. Mason flew into Tokyo over the weekend but will return for the Roosters training session on November 9.
Should Mason obtain a deal in Japan, it is understood he would be released from the final year of his Roosters contract. It is understood Mason asked the Roosters for seven days of "personal leave''.
The Roosters' approval of Mason's request was seen as another indication the club was looking to offload the former NSW and Test star. Keenan was not answering his calls last night while Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce was not commenting on Mason.
Mason's former Australian teammate, Craig Wing, signed with a Japanese rugby union club this year for a reported $700,000 a season and the Roosters forward would command similar money.
NRL clubs are slowly returning for pre-season training, with the Roosters, Souths and New Zealand Warriors getting back to work today. Newcastle, Penrith, Wests Tigers and Canberra also return this week.
"We don't need any motivation after the season we just had - it was a disaster,'' Roosters skipper Braith Anasta said
