With all the hype surrounding his arrival at Hull KR, Willie Mason was a relieved man following his Super League side's 40-22 victory over the Crusaders.

Mason made a big enough impact in his 54 minutes to be named man-of-the-match on his debut in front of the Craven Park faithful on Sunday.

The former Canterbury, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland enforcer admitted he was uncertain before the game whether he had the fitness to perform on the pitch with the Super League season now in its second month.

"It was good, everything worked out well," he said a week after arriving in England.

"I was stressed as to how it would all unravel and it couldn't have gone better in my dreams.

"Having not played in five months it was a bit daunting."

After leaving the Cowboys last year, Mason has spent the past few months training by himself because of visa problems.

"I was thinking last night, imagine if I blow out in five or 10 minutes, so it was good we got a good start," he said.

"I've been in this kind of circus and performed and I was glad to play all right after flying halfway around the world."

Hull KR's marketing department has been in overdrive in the past week promoting the controversial former NSW and Test prop's arrival at the club.

With the team losing three of its opening four matches, there was plenty of expectation on the large shoulders of Mason.

He showed off his skills by superbly setting up Liam Watts for a try.

The home side led 24-6 at the break before the Crusaders scored three tries with Mason a vocal figure behind the sticks in rallying his new teammates.

"We were electrifying in attack but there were some slip-ups in defence which we were all accountable for," Mason said.

Former Bulldogs five-eighth Blake Green settled Hull KR with a try before Chris Welham sealed the match.

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