Rugby league: 'Surprised' Mason ready for captaincy

Ra Mason will captain the Bay women. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

HANDS UP if you were shocked to read the word captain beside Ra Mason's name when the Hawke's Bay women's rugby league team was announced this week.

You weren't alone. In fact Mason, who who has been a close second to Gemma Woods when it comes to women's discipline lapses on the province's league and union fields in recent seasons, admitted to being "surprised".

"You're right. Now I'm captain it means I've got to behave and that's probably why I got the captaincy. I was never a dirty player, it was more bad technique, no arms in the tackle and a little bit eager to help the refs out but I leave the referees alone now.

"I'm a role model to a lot of our younger ones now and I know I have to lead by example," Mason, 21, explained in the buildup to the Bay side's clash with a Manawatu Invitation side at Bill Mathewson Park, Hastings tomorrow.

Mason, who will start at prop in the Bay side's first outing since 2008, agreed poor fitness levels often contributed to her shaky judicial record and with teammate Chanel Huddleston assisting her with a rigorous training schedule she is confident those levels will improve.

"My goal this season is to make the Central Vipers team for the Queen's Birthday Weekend nationals in Auckland and if our team plays as well as it should against Manawatu the majority of our players should make the Vipers. The long term goal is the Kiwi Ferns," Mason said.

Should Mason make the nationals it will be her fourth national tournament. She has also represented Ngati Kahungunu at the national Maori tournament on at least four occasions including one title success.

Mason first played for the Hawke's Bay women as an 11-year-old. While she was young at the time, few were surprised as the daughter of former Unicorns coach and captain Alan Mason and former Taradale Eagles player Kath Hawaikirangi was born into the game.

"That what I love about league it's all about whanau. Waka has always been there for me too ... he's my biggest critic but he's got the knowledge," Mason said referring to her grandfather and former Unicorns coach Waka Leonard. "Like Waka did for so long I'm now preaching the league gospel ... recruitment and development is critical to the future of our game," Mason, an EIT engineering student, said.

As her grandfather always did during his coaching days, Mason has stressed the importance of accurate defensive systems tomorrow.

"A lot of us play together in different rugby teams so we know how each other plays. It's also important we give everyone in the squad an opportunity to impress too ... even if I have to come off. As long as the team is happy I'm happy."

It might pay for Mason to have the final 10 minutes off. This would give her a little bit more time to brush up the toughest aspect of her captaincy, the after-match speech.

"I'm no public speaker ... well not yet," she added with a massive grin which suggested it won't take her long to become one.