Mason, the older brother of NRL star Willie Mason, pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court to possessing drugs after previously being charged with supplying drugs.

An off-duty police officer contacted Newcastle detectives at 9.30pm on February 27 with information about Les Mason who was at the Delany Hotel, Cooks Hill, a police statement said.

Detectives arrived at the hotel at 10pm and asked Mason to talk with them outside.

Mason said "Yeah, I've got stuff on me" and produced a small plastic cylinder that contained nine white tablets that had aeroplanes stamped on them.

Police first thought the tablets were ecstasy, but drug analysis showed that the tablets were methylamphetamine that weighed 2.3 grams.

Mason's barrister Andrew Bright said it was the first time Mason had been charged with a drug offence.

He said the 31-year-old from Hillsdale in Sydney has worked as a rigger and scaffolder and was currently working six 10-hour shifts a week.

He said Mason earned $1800 a week.

Magistrate Elaine Truscott fined Mason $1000 and ordered that the drugs be destroyed.

Mason, who was known in boxing circles as Big Daddy, has not fought a professional bout since 2007.