WILLIE MASON has taken the hate between South Sydney and the Roosters to another level by accusing the Rabbitohs of "whingeing" over the tackle which has sidelined Craig Wing for at least six weeks with a dislocated shoulder.

And after declaring "I hate Souths" in the lead-up to Friday night's spiteful encounter, an unrepentant Mason stood by his comments, declaring: "I don't think you should like your opposition."

"Because they lost Wingy they're whingeing about it," Mason told The Sun-Herald.

"I thought he was still in play and Riley Brown had every right to finish the tackle off. He didn't intentionally hurt Wingy, but that's just the game.

"Just cop it. Look at Riley, he got smoked. They picked him up, drove him back and he got concussed.

"You don't see us whingeing. You've just got to cop it on the chin and keep playing. To stay it was a cheap shot is wrong, because Riley was just doing his job."

Mason compared the match's build-up to a semi-final and was amused his throwaway "hate" line at the Roosters' season launch created such controversy.

"I don't think any team likes anyone," Mason said. "If you go through the comp, I don't think you should like your opposition.

"I thought Wingy was going to take the pressure off me this week.

"It probably made me a bit more nervous because there were a few comments made by some people - myself included - which fired the game up a bit more.

"I do laugh. It shocks me how much attention a little comment can get. But it sold tickets, it was a good spectacle and we won the game so I get the last laugh."

The Kangaroos forward admitted it felt "a bit different" in his first NRL match for the Roosters but wasn't fazed about starting from the bench.

"As long as I get the same game time I don't care what position I'm in, as long as I'm in the number 17."