Willie Mason's future with the Sydney Roosters looks increasingly bleak after the NRL club extended the former NSW and Test prop's leave until training resumes in January.

Mason had spent a week in Japan exploring options about playing rugby union, but returned to Sydney last week with his future very much in doubt after new Roosters coach Brian Smith admitted he would be happy to see the 29-year-old leave.

The former Bulldogs star has a year remaining on his lucrative $400,000-a-year contract and has been linked with a move to Super League club Catalans in France.

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