Mason: Why not just call it rugby?

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Not happy ... Willie Mason doesn't want the shoulder charge banned. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Willie Mason has been on both ends of a shoulder charge over the course of a long and decorated career and he thinks the NRL will suffer without it.

Echoing the sentiments of a host of current players, Mason believes the ARL Commission's decision to ban the shoulder charge will strip rugby league of one of the features that makes it unique.

The newly re-signed Newcastle enforcer has had a taste of rugby union during an ill-fated stint with Top 14 French rugby union side Toulon.

Watch the video at the top for Willie Mason's full views on the shoulder charge ban.

The 15-man game just wasn't for him and the different tackling technique used was part of the reason why.

Speaking on Fox Sports program NRL Summertime, Mason said he was all for protecting the head but implored the ARLC to look at ways other than a total ban of the shoulder charge to achieve this.

"I think that's what separates us from union. They can't shoulder charge and we can," Mason said.

"So I don't think they can't wipe it out of the game, I think they just need to monitor it a little bit.

"You don't want a shoulder to the head, obviously, but when two big guys run at each other, there's going to be some contact."

That was demonstrated in 2012, during a season when several high profile hits to the head put a ban of the shoulder charge on the agenda.

Greg Inglis, Ben Te'o and Frank Pritchard were among the exponents to come under the spotlight when they were banned for incidents where they just missed the target and made contact with the head.

In each case the offender copped a suspension and Mason believes time on the sidelines is the best way to change the habits of those who choose to attempt a high-risk big hit.

"They can't wipe it out, they just need to monitor it and make sure there's no shoulders to the face, which I don't agree with," Mason said.

"They need to rub that out and they pretty much policed that this year. But contact from forward to forward still has to be big, that's why people love our game, because you can just get out there and just rip in."

For your off-season NRL fix, tune in to NRL Summertime on Fox Sports 1HD from 7pm (EDT) Thursday.