Mason was accused of belittling 2GB radio journalist Michelle Keighran on Sunday night when he refused an interview and then made disparaging remarks and jokes while she spoke with other Kangaroos players.

The Bulldogs prop yesterday rang Keighran to apologise for his behaviour, which she accepted as sincere.

The ARL confirmed the matter was now closed and Mason would not be punished for his behaviour after he rectified his poor attempt at humour.

“They’ve handled it. Willie has rung the girl personally and apologised,” said ARL chief executive Geoff Carr.

However, Carr refused to discuss whether Mason’s behaviour could cost him the chance at achieving his goal of becoming Test captain.

“I’m not even going to go there. It’s just speculating,” he said.

Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad also said the matter was closed after Mason went out of his way to contact the reporter.

“We’re pleased that Willie has apologised and that Michelle has accepted that apology,” said Noad.

“Willie is obviously aware that that manner in which he spoke with Michelle was not appropriate.

“We’re pleased they have spoken and have sorted out the issue.”

Keighran had earlier yesterday complained about the behaviour of Mason who made her feel uncomfortable by “belittling me as a female in front of a bunch of blokes”.

“There was no abuse but I’m just humiliated,” she said.

“All the players they had that kind of awkward laugh — that ‘I’ve got to laugh because I’ve got to appease you ... but at the same time I know what you’re doing is wrong’.

“It was just really uncomfortable.”

She said Mason rudely refused to be interviewed.

“He yelled at me and said: ‘You? Why would I want to be interviewed by you for? What would I want to talk to you for?’” she said.

“Naturally, being the only female there, I felt quite stupid.”

On Sunday night Australian team media manager Tristan Hay called Keighran to apologise on behalf of Mason, adding the player’s issue was with 2GB commentators and not the journalist herself.

2GB commentator Ray Hadley has been a vocal critic of Mason because of his several off-field indiscretions, including last week’s allegation of using a drink bottle to pretend to urinate at South Sydney fans.

“I wasn’t aware of any issues at all that I had with Willie Mason or that he had with 2GB,” said Keighran.

“Last night I was contacted by Tristan Hay apologising, saying he had spoken to Willie and basically saying ‘The issue isn’t with you, it wasn’t meant to be a personal attack on you. It was more to do with commentators at the radio station I work at’.

“That’s what angered me, he should be man enough (to say that to me), instead of belittling me as a female in front of a bunch of blokes.”