Willie Mason turns down Crusaders Super League offer

Kangaroos forward Willie Mason appears set to leave Sydney Roosters

Australia forward Willie Mason has rejected a move to the Super League with Crusaders.

But the future of the 29-year-old former Sydney Roosters star is unclear after Australian champions Melbourne Storm denied talk he could join them.

"I personally communicated to Willie that we were not and would not be in a position to offer him a deal for 2010," said chief executive Brian Waldron.

"That message was also communicated to his manager."

The Australian National Rugby League season starts in mid-March, and despite being one of the best-known and most high-profile players in the competition, Mason is still no closer to finding a new team.

The fiery front rower is still best known in the UK for flooring Stuart Fielden and Sean Long during Great Britain's last win against Australia in 2006.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, have not given up hope of signing second rower Weller Hauraki after the 22-year-old New Zealander was released by Parramatta.

New coach Brian Noble hopes to add more reinforcements to the Welsh squad after his double swoop of Australian pair Tony Martin and Michael Witt.

Although Hauraki was named in New Zealand's train-on squad for the 2008 World Cup he did not make the final cut.