Veteran forward Willie Mason says he still has a burning desire to prove his detractors wrong, again, as he enters his 16th season of the NRL with new club Manly.

Unwanted by Newcastle after three years as the Knights’ forward enforcer, 34-year-old Mason says he was hurt by his exit from the Hunter.

Mason is keen to prove new Knights coach Rick Stone, for one, that he still has something to offer as a rugby league player in 2015.

“Not being wanted by the Knights drives me harder,” Mason said on Thursday as he was unveiled as the Sea Eagles’ key recruit for next year.

“Just pretty much (to) prove everybody wrong all the time, that is pretty much what drives me every week to play.

“It just came out of left field and I don’t really want to talk about it too much but they said what they said and I said no worries … I had a great three years at Newcastle.

“I want to thank Wayne Bennett and the Knights for that. It is just a shame that it had to go this way and that I had to be at Manly but one door closes, another one opens.”

“I really enjoy my role as a football player more than ever, I know where I stand in the game and I’m quite happy with it.”

He has promised to bring mongrel and intimidation to Manly’s pack, filling a gap left by good friend Anthony Watmough.

As Mason arrived at Manly in the frenzy of off-season transfers, Watmough moved to crosstown rivals Parramatta, meaning there would be plenty to talk about when the two sides met in 2015.

Sledging aside, Mason admitted he would have preferred to play alongside Watmough.

“Me and Choc (Watmough) go way back. He has been great for Manly – he is a Narrabeen kid. It is a shame to see him go,” Mason said.

“I would have loved to have come here and Choccy be here but nothing works out perfectly.

“He is one of a few guys who have left and I am confident we can fill that hole.

“I bring some mongrel and a bit of intimidation.

“We have the best backline in the comp and the back-row speaks for itself.

“We have got heaps of players who can do the job. They just had to tighten up the front row and that’s where I come in.”

Key forwards Glenn Stewart (South Sydney) and Jason King (retired) have also departed Brookvale.

Feleti Mateo, Siosaia Vave and Zane Tetevano have moved to the Sea Eagles alongside Mason.