Furious Tyson Gamble tells Willie Mason to ‘get f**ked’ after the ex-Knights enforcer called one part of Newcastle’s team ‘the worst in the NRL’
- Knight’s five-eighth was not happy with Willie Mason’s comments
- Former Knights prop declared Newcastle’s NRL backbone to be average
- Knights have won 10 games in a row, play NZ Warriors this weekend
Newcastle five-eighth Tyson Gamble has told Willie Mason to stay in his lane after the former Test prop claimed the Knights had ‘the worst backbone in the game’.
The outspoken Mason, who played for Newcastle for three seasons between 2012 and 2014, said at one podcast from last week that the opposition parties would not be afraid of the Knights’ main gaming threats.
Mason highlighted the brilliance of fullback Kalyn Ponga, but said no team would do video analysis on a back with halfback Jackson Hastings, hooker Phoenix Crossland and Gamble.
The Knights enter week two of the finals after beating Canberra 30-28 at the weekend and will head to Auckland on Saturday to face the Warriors in a do-or-die semi-final.
Hastings, Crossland and Gamble all confirmed they had seen the comments, with the latter telling Mason to focus on the problems at Canterbury, where he is part of Cameron Ciraldo’s backroom staff.
Newcastle five-eighth Tyson Gamble has told Willie Mason to stay in his lane after the former Test prop claimed the Knights had ‘the worst backbone in the game’
Mason acknowledged the brilliance of fullback Kalyn Ponga in a recent podcast but said no rival NRL team would do video analysis on a backbone that also includes halfback Jackson Hastings, hooker Phoenix Crossland and Gamble.
“Me, Jacko and Phoenix definitely saw it,” Gamble told AAP.
‘Everyone has an opinion. It’s okay, he should probably worry about his own backyard before he starts worrying about other people.
“He was a middle and not a half, so tell him to get fucked.
“We are not a team of superstars, we have Kalyn, the biggest star in the game.
“We’re a team of guys doing their job and that’s why we’re in the position we’re in.”
The Knights defeated Mason’s Bulldogs 66-0 and 42-6 in their two meetings this season for a combined score of 108-6.
During the two games against the Dogs, Crossland, Gamble and Hastings each scored twice.
Crossland, in particular, has impressed for the Knights this season.
Although traditionally a five-eighth, the Wellington-born 23-year-old has done a commendable job as a substitute at hooker and is in line for a New Zealand call-up.
Tyson Gamble claimed he was bitten by Raiders star Jack Wighton during last Sunday’s NRL elimination final
Phoenix Crossland has been a standout for the Knights after replacing the injured Jayden Brailey
‘I saw what he said and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I’m not going to sit here and set Willie up,” Crossland said, adding that he respected Mason’s performance on the field.
“He has done a lot in the game and he has the right to express those opinions.”
Hastings is desperate to play the Warriors after being unable to complete the win over Canberra with an ankle injury.
The Newcastle halfback said the plight of Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen made him realize how lucky he is to be considering a quick return.
After just a few games back from a broken kneecap, Papenhuyzen will be sidelined for weeks with a broken ankle suffered in Friday’s defeat to Brisbane.
‘You feel a bit left out (when you’re injured). But that’s part of footy,” Hastings said.
‘It could have been worse. I sympathize with Ryan Papenhuyzen and the inspiring story of his return.
“It was stressful to see him go, I felt proud of how strong he was.”