Friday interview - Keith Mason: Stage set for Mason to finally show star quality

The powerful prop from Dewsbury started out at Wakefield but might quickly have been making a name for himself at Melbourne Storm as the Australian club began its era of dominance in the National Rugby League.

Likewise, there was a chance he could have become a mainstay of the St Helens side which reached four successive Super League Grand Finals or even been charging around for the world's most famous club, Wigan Warriors.

However, it is fair to say Mason – who has forged an unlikely friendship with movie star Mickey Rourke which could result in him starring in a rugby league film – never came close to staying at Castleford Tigers in 2006.

A season-long loan spell from Saints lasted all of two games amid a major fall-out with Tigers coach Terry Matterson but as Mason prepares to face the struggling West Yorkshire outfit tonight with Huddersfield Giants, the club where he has finally carved out a lasting presence, there is no bitterness or regret.

"We had a disagreement," recalled Mason, four years on from the ill-fated spell at The Jungle.

"I played two games for Cas and then got told not to play at all – A team or anything – for whatever reason.

"I never wanted to be there in the first place. I put the effort in but my head was never there really.

"I was travelling over from St Helens every day and had a little son so it was tough but it's all done now.

"Terry Matterson actually apologised to me after the Challenge Cup quarter-final last year when we beat them.

"He shook my hand and whenever I see the guy now I say hello. I knew him back at Melbourne Storm when he was part of the coaching staff there.

"He's a decent guy but things happen for a reason. Thank God it did as I've come somewhere I see as a top four club.

"Huddersfield came in and I never looked back. I'm playing the best football I've ever played in my career."

Like many Giants team-mates who would do likewise, he enjoyed his finest season yet under the influence of in-coming coach Nathan Brown last year.

The Australian brought the best out of the massive front-row who had struggled for consistency for much of his career.

St Helens coach Ian Millward had signed him from Melbourne in 2003, where he had played four NRL games during an 18-month stint spent largely in their feeder side North Devils alongside rising stars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and current Giants team-mate Paul Whatuira.

However, when Millward was sacked two years later, Mason did not fit into the plans of replacement Daniel Anderson.

Mason remembered how the chance to follow Millward to Wigan was taken away from him because of St Helens' unwillingness to do business with their arch-rivals.

"I went to train at Wigan and they wanted to sign me but Saints put a stop to that," said the 28-year-old.

"I was going to play that Friday night against Bradford but St Helens said they wouldn't let me sign for them.

"Obviously, they've got a history between them both."

After more than two months in limbo, Mason finally joined up with Huddersfield and, ironically, debuted in a win over St Helens at the Galpharm Stadium in May, 2006.

The place has happy memories for him – he made his Super League debut there with Wakefield five years earlier – although it was the scene of Mason's unfortunate start to 2010.

He tore a pectoral muscle in the first minute of Huddersfield's opening encounter with Bradford Bulls in February and only made his return against Catalans Dragons on Good Friday.

"It was the first tackle of the game, their player raised his elbow and it felt like it went straight through my chest," Mason explained.

"I landed on the floor and couldn't even lift my arm. I tried to get the physio's attention but he didn't see me so I had to do a couple of carries and a couple of tackles while my arm was nearly hanging off.

"It really annoyed me as I'd already had a double hernia op and tore my calf in pre-season.

"Basically, I've had another pre-season in the gym since and, hopefully, that's the last of my bad injuries.

"It was great to be back against Catalans although I actually slightly re-tore it week before due to come back.

"In the first tackle, I deliberately went with my right shoulder as hard as I possibly could to get confidence and it was fine."

Having reached the Challenge Cup final at Wembley last season with Huddersfield, and helped them finish a club-high third, the thirst for success is greater than ever.

With the likes of England props Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley coming towards the end of their long-running representative careers, Mason also has one eye on an England shirt, hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Giants front-row Eorl Crabtree, who had such an impact debuting in last season's Four Nations.

"There's some front-rowers who are knocking on but I think I'm as good as those who are a similar age to me," said Mason, who won one cap for Wales in 2001.

"I'm at the peak of my career now and, hopefully, I'll push

on and play internationals for the next couple of years but my main concern is to play well for Huddersfield Giants. I just want to win something here."

Fourth-placed Giants were given a reality check by Salford who inflicted a shock defeat on Easter Monday.

Mason was one of five players rested. It is unlikely he will be rested much longer.