For a young guy, Mack Mason’s football resume is pretty impressive.

After starring at schoolboy level for Churchie in Brisbane, the now 22-year old flyhalf was signed by the Melbourne Storm to train as Cooper Cronk’s understudy, before returning to rugby via the Reds and then the Waratahs.

Mason made his Super Rugby debut for NSW last year but playing behind Wallabies No.10 Bernard Foley, has struggled for game time since.

Instead, he’s played a crucial role in Eastern Suburb’s Shute Shield revival. Something, it seems we may hear a lot more about in the coming months.

“Obviously Super Rugby is my goal and that’s where I want to be playing but when I am playing at Easts, I always want to perform and put my best foot forward and I feel I’ve done that this year so far,” Mason told Rugby News.

After missing the finals again in 2017, Easts started the 2018 season with a new head coach for the third straight year.

But this time, it appeared to work and the Pauli Taumoepeau led Beasties opened 2018 with four wins from their first five matches.

“We started really strong and I think that is credit to Pauli, we spent a lot of time on game knowledge and skills during preseason and that’s something I think we lacked a little last year,” Mason said.

“We’ve also got a home ground again and we’re trying to turn it into a fortress. We’ve only lost once at home this year and that was against Sydney Uni who are leading the comp.”

Following a string of disappointing losses, Easts dropped down the ladder but returned to form last Saturday with a comprehensive 36-8 bonus point win over second placed Norths.

“We had a lot of guys missing last week against Norths but the boys all stood up and had a good win and that’s put us in good stead for the back end of the season,” Mason said.

“From 1-15, the skill level and the determination has definitely risen. Our forwards are working for each other and that is allowing the backs to show their skills.

“Ryan McCauley started the year really strong, he was the best player on the field in probably five of our first eight games. Stanno (Tom Staniforth) has only played a few games with us but he’s also been really good every time he has.”

Add fellow Waratahs Alex Newsome and Lalakai Foketi into the mix and it starts to look like a side that could do some serious damage at the backend of the Shute Shield season.

“One of the things they’ve worked hard on at Easts has been to improve the culture and the footy environment and that’s helped attract a few more of the Waratahs guys to the club which has helped everyone across the board,” Mason said.

“We’re sitting seventh at the moment but a win can get us up to third, depending on other results.”

“The competition is tight but we want to be up there competing in first grade in finals, like our colts and lower grade sides have been doing for the last few years.”

Mason and the Beasties host an in form Eastwood outfit on Saturday, who have won five of their last six matches.

But if Easts are going to play rugby in August this year, Mason said its a game they need to be up for.

“Eastwood are performing well and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves again, it’ll be a good, hard hit out against a quality side.

“It’s been a very long time since Beasties have won a first grade premiership and although we’re not looking too far ahead, if we did get to that stage as a team, it would be unreal. That’s definitely the goal.”