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SYDNEY - Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes has learnt from past mistakes - which is exactly why he muzzled outspoken Willie Mason this week.
Mason created controversy a fortnight ago when he agreed that North Queensland could be considered a two-man side prior to the club's final round match against the Cowboys.
His reference to Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen particularly riled the Cowboys, who promptly delivered the best response possible with a one-sided belting in Townsville.
Folkes put a media ban on Mason at the club's Belmore training session, keen to prevent his shoot-from-the-lip player from handing any more ammunition to NRL semifinal opponents Parramatta.
"That's probably fair to say. He can sort of just go along with what you blokes say," Folkes said. "That's what gets him into trouble."
A journalist quickly replied: "Can't Willie think for himself?"
"He can, but he doesn't like to," Folkes said.
Folkes welcomed back Sonny Bill Williams for the semifinal. The Kiwis international returns from a one-game suspension and will slot into the second row, with Mason to return to the front row and Chris Armit on to the bench. Lee Te Maari drops out of the squad.
Keeping Mason quiet leading into the sudden death match isn't Folkes' only concern, with the Bulldogs' discipline an area also causing headaches for the coach.
They lost the penalty count 12-4 in that 20-18 loss to North Queensland in last week's qualifying final - and their attack on kicker Thurston attracted criticism from the opposition. Folkes said while his team would address their discipline this week, they would not be changing their tactic of targeting the kicker.
"Every team in the competition tries to put pressure on the kicker. It's a fair and reasonable tactic," Folkes said. "Whoever kicks the ball for them, we'll be trying to get as much pressure on them as we can.
"As long as the tackle is not late or high, there's nothing in the rulebook which says you can't put pressure on a kicker.
"Every coach in the league talks about controlling the football and not giving the opposition walks down to your end and we did that a bit last Saturday night - so we're looking to make sure we're ready in that department."
* Australian bookmakers might have written off the New Zealand Warriors as premiership chances, but they're more confident of an upset in Townsville on Sunday.
The Warriors were priced at $1.95 and North Queensland $1.85.
After the Warriors' home loss to Penrith last Friday, their price drifted from $8 to $13 rank outsiders to win the premiership.
The Cowboys are marginally less despised, at $11 to win the premiership, with Melbourne Storm clear favourites at $1.90.
They have this weekend off, as do second-favourites Manly, who await the winners of Sunday's Townsville clash.
North Queensland won their sixth consecutive match against the Bulldogs last Saturday, while the Warriors haven't won in Townsville for five years and will have to adjust to the tropical afternoon heat.
- AAP
