League: Mason 'a joke' says McClennan

MELBOURNE - The Kiwis have labelled Kangaroos forward Willie Mason a laughing stock as the verbal missiles kept flying to spark up Melbourne's Tri-Nations rugby league test week today.

Mason took further aim at Kiwis hardman David Kidwell, the man who left him sprawled on Mt Smart Stadium with a suspected fractured eye socket after a legitimate tackle during Saturday's series opener, saying the Kangaroos pack had "no respect" for him.

Kiwis coach Brian McClennan returned the favour, saying Mason's words meant nothing to his squad.

"The bloke gets things wrong. The bottom line is he just keeps mucking up all the time. He's becoming a joke," McClennan said of Auckland-born Mason.

Mason, who was today labelled by Australian headlines as "Willie Wonky" and "Silly Willie", sparked up the Tri-Nations series before the Kangaroos' 30-18 victory when he was caught on television cameras mouthing the words "f... off" during the haka.

He later explained it was a joke to lessen the impact of the Kiwis' pre-match challenge, and that he was making fun of Kiwis fullback Brent Webb performing the haka when he had Aboriginal ancestry.

Webb laughed off Mason's words today, saying his family were in fact Torres Strait Islanders (in Queensland), and he hadn't even noticed Mason swearing at him during the haka.

"He said Brent was Aboriginal, he got that one wrong as well," McClennan said.

Asked about Mason's response to the haka, McClennan said: "I don't think it's the right way to go.

"Willie was disrespectful during the haka and he just doesn't need to do that. The bloke's got to have a good look at himself."

Mason appeared at today's Kangaroos training with a puffy eye, awaiting scans of the injury, but vowed to play on Saturday night even if he was diagnosed with a fractured eye socket.

He reiterated his and Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart's thoughts that Kidwell's huge front-on tackle was a "cheap shot", and that the Melbourne Storm veteran was reluctant to cart the ball up amid the Kangaroos' big men.

"He hasn't got any of our forward pack's respect," said Mason, who was named at No 10 but started off the bench on Saturday.

"He'll be out to try and gain a little bit (of respect) I suppose but I'm not going to go out of my way to go out and hit him and cause him any damage.

"I'm going to go out and play my best for Australia."

Kidwell, back in his beloved Melbourne where he's played for the past four years, was relaxed and happy to take up Mason's challenge.

"If he does (target me) I've got 16 other brothers standing with me so it makes it very interesting," Kidwell said.

"I've got a role in the team and I've got to play that role. I can't always run in the forwards. I'm sure when I do Saturday night they'll give it to me and I'll expect nothing less."

The Kiwis made their first public appearance today at Melbourne's City Square, where they were greeted by a traditional Maori welcome, signed autographs for several hundred fans who were served Kangaroo sausages, and oversaw a haka competition for the public.

McClennan welcomed Bradford utility Shontayne Hape and Warriors hooker Nathan Fien into the squad, saying Fien had made "terrific progress" from a back injury and was an outside chance of being fit for Saturday.

St Helens' Jason Cayless and Hull's Motu Tony were winging their way from England after St Helens' 26-4 Challenge Cup final win.

McClennan said Cayless had a shoulder injury that needed medical assessment. Tony had been cleared of any serious injury after crashing into advertising hoardings during the match.

- NZPA