Mason takes aim at Maroons supporters
NSW backrower Willie Mason is preparing for the biggest game of his life, and ensured he'd have a reception to match after labelling Queensland fans "nutbag rednecks".
Claiming he'd be disappointed if he didn't get booed running onto a packed Suncorp Stadium for Origin II, Mason unleashed on the Maroons fans who have made him public enemy No.1 in recent interstate series.
Not that he would have it any other way.
"It has the making of being one of the hardest, toughest Origins for years," Mason said.
"They have their backs to the wall and they got bagged, they've said that they weren't intense enough, former players are going to come out of the woodwork and say that they were soft.
"They're just going to be pumped to the max, they're going to have 65,000 (sic) nutbag redneck Queenslanders supporting them and going mad and hating us, they're just going to have everything going for them.
"We've just got 17 Blues players going up there - we're going to be out there having a dig ... it's going to be a great game, I can't wait."
Told his comments were likely to anger those north of the border and that he could expect a warm reception, Mason said:
"If I don't get booed it's a joke."
Much of Mason's excitment ahead of the clash stems from the possibility of NSW wrapping up the series on enemy soil.
Mason was injured the last time NSW clinched a series in Brisbane in 2005, and he is desperate not to miss out on another opportunity.
"It's the biggest Origin game I've played in," he said.
"I came in on the back of 2003 and 04, we won the series but you just sort of take it for granted.
"Not being part of 2005 and then getting beat 06, 07 and now to have the opportunity to go up there and win the series would be a real defining moment in my career."
But the odds are stacked against NSW recording a series win in Brisbane - 1994 and 2000 the only other occasions the feat has been achieved.
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