Willie Mason made his name in the NRL as a tough, uncompromising forward who never took a backwards step from anyone — and he’s continued to be the same in his post-footy career.
So it should come as no surprise that Mason made sure he had the last laugh with a withering sledge on Knights five-eighth Tyson Gamble after Newcastle’s 40-10 semi-final thrashing to New Zealand.
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The pair had been jawing throughout the week after Mason said on his Podcast Levels that the Knights had “the worst f**king spine in the game” without Kalyn Ponga.
He added that the other teams would not be worried about Newcastle’s key players and wouldn’t even bother doing analysis on Gamble, Phoenix Crossland and Jackson Hastings.
Gamble was not thrilled, saying he and the other players had seen it, hitting back at Mason.
“He was a middle not a half, so tell him to get f***ed,” Gamble told AAP.
But Mason was not about to let that go without comments as the Knights were put to the sword against the Warriors.
He tweeted: “There could not be a bigger hole that Tyson gamble wants to crawl into right now. Pick ya battles boy. You are below average.”
Gamble had a tough night with 7 runs for 43m and just three post contact metres.
He had no assists, no tackle breaks and made an equal game high six missed tackles along with 30 completed tackles.
Gamble had come out strongly against Mason’s comments and said the Knights were a blue collar team.
“Me, Jacko and Phoenix all saw it,” Gamble said.
“Everybody’s got an opinion. It’s alright, he should probably worry about his own backyard before he starts worrying about other people.
“He was a middle not a half, so tell him to get f***ed.
“We’re not a team of superstars, we’ve got Kalyn who is the biggest star in the game.
“We’re a team of blokes who do their job and that’s why we’re in the position we’re in.”
It was a tough night for the Knights in New Zealand, heading into the game without Jackson Hastings and struggling to control the attack.