FORMER Roosters hardman Willie Mason has issued an almighty spray aimed at his old boss Nick Politis over the club’s pursuit of Cooper Cronk.
Pearce is reportedly livid at Cronk’s pending arrival at Bondi, which would likely push him out of his halfback position.
In the past 48 hours it’s been reported Manly has already began discussions with Pearce, while Newcastle coach Nathan Brown revealed his interest in the NSW Origin playmaker.
League legend Mark Geyer told Triple M’s Grill Team on Thursday why the Roosters shouldnt sign Cronk.
And Mason took the criticism a step further when he called out Roosters boss Politis in an impressive rant on SkipiTV.
He claims it is Politis who is driving the Cronk pursuit, but coach Trent Robinson will be the man left answering the questions if the deal goes sour.
“Robbo will be at the coal face, but with that club Nick Politis makes every single big move,” Mason said.
“(Politis) won’t face any cameras. He will sit there and make these moves and everyone else has got to deal with it.”
Mason says when he signed with the Roosters in 2008 the entire deal was done through Politis. It was all Politis he signed us all. Me, Braith, Nate, Shrek, SBW. He wanted us to bring our Bulldog culture to Bondi. He tried to get Israel Folau, Thurston, and he nearly got me before I joined the Bulldogs. He also made a play for Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy. Politis once said at our end of year function, he wants to make the Roosters the Real Madrid of the NRL.
Now he fears the pursuit of Cronk could tear the culture of the club apart.
The ramifications of Cronk’s signing are already being laid bare with the news of Pearce wanting out.
Cronk brings another level of experience and leadership with him, but Mason fears it could mean nothing if his arrival pushes other players out.
Mason says other Roosters players may not respect Cronk as much if his signing costs them Pearce.
“I’m not sure how he’s going to put himself in that locker room, enforce himself and tell Friendy (Jake Friend) and those other guys that are going to have in the back of their head ‘you’re only here because you flicked one of my best mates’,” Mason said.
“We’ve heard rumours Pearce wants out ... maybe Friend wants out? It could start a revolt.
“That playing group has been together for about six or seven years, the main playing group — Friend, Pearce, Boyd Cordner.
“They’ve won premierships together, so when you slide in there like Cooper Cronk is now, it’s just the worst situation for him.”
