Nick Tedeschi is  BPL citizen journalist

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have worked extremely hard to rebuild the image of the club that was battered, stomped on, beaten and bruised over the last decade.

From the salary cap scandal of 2002 through to the rape allegations of 2004, the walkout of Sonny Bill Williams and the violent tendencies of many fans, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs were no longer the team that Peter Moore built. They were a team in perennial crisis, fractured by internal divisions and hamstrung by a lack of discipline both on and off the field.

Then along came Todd Greenberg, a man Bulldogs fans rightfully hail as a saviour and a hero. In less than two years, with Greenberg and new coach Kevin Moore in charge, the Bulldogs have repaired their tarnished image.

The most important element in turning the Bulldogs ship around has been the change in recruitment and retention policy. Under the new guard, it was no longer acceptable to just be a good footballer. It was also necessary to be a good citizen, a role model, a person who would uphold the Bulldogs family philosophy.

Reni Maitua was sent packing. So too was Lee Te Maari. Sonny Bill Williams walked and was told by the club he would not be welcomed back.

The club then turned to the likes of Brett Kimmorley, David Stagg and Michael Ennis. All have been top class players and fine representatives of the club.

The same will be expected of Aiden Tolman and Trent Hodkinson next season. Both are outstanding prospects who seemingly understand that the group is more important than the individual when it comes to rugby league.

That is a concept foreign to Willie Mason. He has always wanted to be the star, the centre of attention, the larrikin, the clown, the man who we all heaped glory upon. Willie Mason has always put himself above the club that paid his wage.

This week it was reported that Canterbury-Bankstown were considering re-signing Willie Mason.

Mason reached some great heights when he played for the Bulldogs. He won New South Wales and Australian honours and the Clive Churchill Medal in the 2004 Grand Final. He was also perennially in the headlines for a string of off-field incidents that, at best, can be described as unprofessional. After making noises at various times about walking out on the club, he eventually did after the 2007 season when the Bulldogs, quite rightfully, denied him the opportunity to pursue a boxing career.

He then spent two unremarkable seasons at the Roosters where he was again disciplined repeatedly for breaking team rules, among other things. He was released from the final year of his deal at the Roosters amid accusations that he was a bad influence on the club's younger players.

Mason's form has certainly improved this season at North Queensland but these days he is nothing more than a stock-standard backrower in terms of numbers and on-field impact.

There is no doubt the Bulldogs need to boost their backrow stocks. Willie Mason, however, is not the answer. His best playing days are long gone and there are better talents and better team-oriented players available. Mason's personality is also not suited to a Sydney club, particularly one concerned with its image. He also did walk out on the club in a most ugly manner, something that has not been forgotten by the Bulldogs faithful.

Greenberg has made few mistakes since taking over Canterbury. Signing Willie Mason would be a mistake and a catastrophic one at that.

Nick Tedeschi is an avid rugby league follower and sports fan who has been writing sports for various media outlets for six years.