Heath Mason was the standout No. 6 in the Australian Schoolboys Championships final in 2023.
That is a fair wrap when you consider the five-eighth on the losing side that day was none other than Lachie Galvin.
Galvin’s departure to Canterbury this week has paved the way for Mason to wear the No.6 jersey at the Wests Tigers for the first time.
Unlike Galvin, Mason is a Wests Magpies junior who loves the Tigers and wants to stay long term. So does Galvin’s good mate Tallyn Da Silva.
“He’s on until the end of 2026. Heath loves the club and doesn’t want to be anywhere else,” Mason’s agent Matt Desira said. “I’m actually excited to see how he goes in the No. 6 because he plays direct, and loves to dig into the line. I think he can dominate at NRL level.”
While he has played a handful of NRL games at fullback, Mason grew up playing in the halves and has the potential to be a star five-eighth. The parents, family and friends at that schoolboys final a few years back on a sunny afternoon in Redcliffe will attest to that.
Heath Mason wears the No. 6 jersey for the first timeCredit: NRL Images
Australian Schoolboys coach Tim White said Galvin may have been the best player at that tournament, but Mason was the pick of the five-eighths.
“Heath’s team ended up putting 40 points on Lachie’s side – he was certainly more dominant in that game,” White said. “I ended up picking him in the schoolboys team as a No.14, but he didn’t travel because of an injury.
“He’s very versatile, very instinctive, and he can play a number of positions because he is supremely coordinated – he has an innate ability to pop up anywhere and just play. There’s almost no need to coach Heath. He’s athletic and a natural footballer.”
Mason was a member of the Magpies’ Harold Matthews team that won the 2022 premiership. The side also featured Galvin, who started in the back row, as well as Da Silva and forward Kit Laulilii, with Mason the No.6.
Heath Mason in action during the NRL trialsCredit: Getty Images
“Heath could do a job for you anywhere on the football field,” said Stephen Isdale, a member of the Magpies’ coaching staff that year.
“He’s a natural runner, an eyes-up footballer, and if he sees an opportunity, he’ll take it or create something for those on his outside. He’s got a great right-foot step and played on the right. The year we won, we had Heath on the right, Lachie on the left, then Tallyn and Kit through the middle – we had threats all over the place.”
Footage of Galvin training at Belmore in Canterbury colours on Friday would have been welcomed by Tigers fans who have watched their team’s season virtually placed on hold since it emerged six weeks ago their young playmaker wanted to continue his career elsewhere.
Mason will try to make the most of his first five-eighth audition when the Tigers play North Queensland on Saturday evening. Latu Fainu is another supremely talented No. 6 option but has struggled with hamstring injuries and now a hand issue.
Mason grew up playing with the Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters, in the southern highlands, and is signed until the end of 2026.
When asked on Friday if he was disappointed with Galvin’s departure, Tigers coach Benji Marshall said: “I don’t know if ‘disappointment’ is the word.
“Look, at the same time we like our players we’ve got, we love the squad we’ve got. We’re excited about some of the young players we’ve got coming through and for us, we want to try and make a mark on competition this year.”
The Cowboys are monitoring the Tigers and what happens with Da Silva should Api Koroisau extend his deal, which is expected in the coming months. North Queensland inquired about Koroisau and Da Silva after Reece Robson announced he was joining the Sydney Roosters.
Marshall told the Cowboys both players were off limits, but that will change should Koroisau extend, and Da Silva be given permission to leave a year early.
The home team welcome the return of Origin players Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Jeremiah Nanai and Robson.
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
