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Big Artie Tribute (links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

Artie setting up shcubert(links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

VIDEO LINK
Bill Mullens Try in the 74GF with some nifty Beetson lead up (links to www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au)

Videos - A tribute to the Seven Australian rugby league immortals Reg Gasnier, Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Johnny Raper, Changa Langlands, and Arthur Beetson, includes talk of whether Andrew Johns should become the eighth. To view just click the Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae4cGeJWVKA

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THIS IS PROBABLY FUNNY NOW BUT IF YOU WERE A TIGER SUPPORTER AT THE TIME THEN ????

I was a kid of about 13 and went to the old Sydney Sports Ground to watch Balmain take on St George. It was the match of the day, and I dont know why it was at the Sports Ground and not the SCG, but my memory is vivid of this one and it was certainly at the Sports ground. ( the sports ground is now the Sydney Football Stadium )

Artie was definately the old "half game Artie" in those days and I was sitting with some mates directly behind the western goal posts of the Sports Ground. It was late in the first half and St George was attacking the Tigers line and on or near the 10 yard line. Right near to where I was sitting. They were attacking towards the western end.

I knew that Artie was down taking a breather near the halfway line. I think he had missed a tackle and was taking his time to get back to his feet. Someone near me yelled out something like "have a go at Artie".

Beetson had regained his feet and was sprinting back towards his own goal line from half way and was still behind the Saints attacking line. The tackled saints player was in the process of playing the ball and the dummy half had no idea what so ever of what was bearing down on him from behind.

Artie was at full speed and made a bee line for the poor old dummy half who was bent over waiting to pick up and distribute the ball to his own side. Artie dropped his shoulder into the butt of the Saints player and sent him sprawling towards the Tigers tryline. Artie bounced off the poor bugger and continued to take up his defensive position. The ball, well it harmlessly rolled towards the dumbfounded Saints players who stood motionless and bewildered.

Although everyone in the crowd around me could see the humerous side and were in fits of laughter, Referee, I think was Col Pearce just pointed to the dressing sheds and sent Half game Artie packing.

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Source of transcript: http://www.abc.net.au/am/s321452.htm

Reporter: John Taylor

CAMILLE FUNNELL: No other sporting event captivates the attention of Queenslanders like the State of Origin.

Tomorrow the series decider will be played out in Brisbane in front of a sell-out crowd with the headline attraction of half-back Allan Langer playing for Queensland. That announcement for many parallels the State of Origin myth of Artie Beetson, the man who it said was plucked from Parramatta reserve grade to captain his side to victory in the first ever game of the series.

But as John Taylor reports, the problem with the Beetson myth is, it isn't true.

JOHN TAYLOR: As sporting legends go, it's one cherished by Queensland rugby league State of Origin fans. In 1980 Artie Beetson was in the twilight of his career, at 35, winding down, playing in reserve grade for Parramatta in the New South Wales competition. But he was chosen to captain the Queensland side in the first State of Origin match. He played an inspiring game, leading his team to a 20:10 victory.

COMMENTATOR: Beetson up the centre. Back to Lange. Sends it away to Meninga. Meninga to Close. Close cutting back the other way. Catches the defence on the wrong foot. He's broken through. He's coming up to Eadie. Gets away from Eadie. He's over underneath!

JOHN TAYLOR: Chris 'Choppy' Close was named man of the match. But as he recounted years later, the award could easily have gone to Beetson.

CHRIS CLOSE: I probably just pipped Arthur Beetson, who had one of the most courageous displays in any sporting event in Australia for any time. I mean, to play for your state at 35 years of age, and to play the match that he did, has really inspired me from then, you know, until now. And I think that was the birth of the Queensland tradition and the spirit. And I certainly won man of the match. But I think it could have gone either way really.

JOHN TAYLOR: This week Queensland selectors announced Allan 'Alfie' Langer, had been recalled from the English league to play again for his state. In 1999 he'd retired mid-season from the Australian competition. The Australian newspaper on page 1 drew parallels to the calling up of Artie Beetson all those years ago.

REPORTER: It is the biggest selection surprise since Arthur Beetson, the man regarded as the father of Origin, was plucked from reserve grade to lead Queensland in the very first Origin game in 1980.

JOHN TAYLOR: Former Queensland and Australian captain and now television sports reporter Wally Lewis said much the same thing in his story as well. And he played alongside Beetson in that inaugural game.

COMMENTATOR: From deep down there's plenty of maroon jerseys coming at Anderson. Oliphant up there, and underneath was Lewis. Nice piece of work!

JOHN TAYLOR: But Artie Beetson says there's only one problem.

ARTIE BEETSON: That's not exactly right John. People say that because it suits. But I was actually playing first grade.

JOHN TAYLOR: Come again!

ARTIE BEETSON: So, people always said that. Actually the fact of the matter is that I got dropped after Origin to reserve grade.

JOHN TAYLOR: Oh, serious!

ARTIE BEETSON: No. Well, that's it. A lot of people don't know that. But I was plucked out of - I had been playing first grade in Sydney. And after the Origin match I was dropped.

JOHN TAYLOR: A check with the Parramatta Rugby League Club's records confirms Artie Beetson is telling the truth. He played in first grade the game before the State of Origin. And everyone else has been getting it wrong for more than a decade.

Does it matter?

Only as much as the minutia of history does. Beetson was still 35, and he still played a great game. And, after all, Queensland did what it does best - beat New South Wales.

CAMILLE FUNNELL: John Taylor reporting from Queensland.

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Beetson joins league Immortals
September 23, 2003

Arthur Beetson last night was inducted as Australian rugby league's seventh Immortal.

Beetson, who played 14 Tests for Australia, joined John Raper, Reg Gasnier, Bob Fulton, Clive Churchill, Wally Lewis and Graeme Langlands as the game's top post-war players.

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Arthur Beetson knows a good story about Frank Foster.

When Beetson came over to play for Hull KR in the late 60's i think Frank had a little "word" with him after training just to make sure he didn't think he was going to be taking Frank's place in the team.

Believe they took a while to scrape Beetson off the wall!! (if you know what i mean)

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INTERVIEW WITH KING WALLY LEWIS DURING THE ABC RADIO SHOW 'CONVERSATION HOUR'.......

During the interview Wally mentioned how when he as a 20 year old played in the first ever State Of Origin Game.

Whilst in the shed prior to the game big Artie came up and sat down beside the King and took off his flat hat.and placed it beside Wally.

Artie told Wally that he had not seen him play but he had heard a lot about him. Beetson said that he had heard enough about Wally to know that he had what it takes to survive in S.O.O. Beetson told Wally he had watched a video of Lewis playing that very morning and he knew he had the goods.

Wally chuckled to the interviewer that in hindsight it was more than unlikely that Artie had never ever seen Wally play before that first ever State of Origin Game.

Wally went on to mention that he did not have his best ever State of Origin game, but all he wanted to do that game was to shadow Artie and follow him all over the ground. All Wally wanted to do was to experience and run off a famous Artie Beetson pass. At the end of the game Wally stated that he had run off about thirty of Arties passes.

As Wally said, the guy was about 35 years old, carrying injuries, and still managed to dominate in the highest level of league in the world.

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Artie Beetson......

Artie was signed up to play for Hull Kingston Rovers for the UK 1968 season. He was signed up by Colin Hutton who was coach of the 68 GB world cup squad.

He played some good games although he was sent off at least twice, once in a reserve grade game.

On Xmas Day 1968 he played in the local derby, Hull KR versus their mortal enemy from across the river Hull FC. Hull KR had a good team in those days, GB internationals Bill Holiday, Frank Foster, ALan Burwell who played for the dogs, Roger the dodger Millward, Chris Young and an up and coming forward called Phil Lowe.

Unfortunately Artie was involved in a tackle with Hull center John Malony and broke his leg. He limped off so we didn't think the injury was that bad.

His replacement came on also an Australian forward called Jim Hall, then a Sydney policeman who went on to be the citing commissioner with the NRL.

We were shocked when the first newspaper came out after the Xmas break to find he was in hospital with his leg in traction.

Last year (2004) I gave the program to the club to raise funds.

Also saw the Aussie mid week team play there on the 67 tour. KR beat them 27-15.

Cheers, Steve in Nelson NZ

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ARTHUR BEETSON MAKES WESTS TIGERS TEAM OF THE CENTURY
From West Tigers website - to visit click here

On the 20th April 1908 the first official game of Rugby League was played in the Sydney Premiership. The combatants were the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Balmain Tigers. Since that time, there have been a total of 15 Premierships won between the clubs and a host of State of Origin, Kangaroo and Premiership stars produced. A wealth of legendary moments played out by some of the true legends of the game. To celebrate the history and prestige associated with two of Australia's most famous Rugby League Teams, as well as embrace their recent unification into the Wests Tigers, it is time to celebrate the.

Wests Tigers TEAM OF THE CENTURY

A panel of judges spanning the different eras from both Clubs will select nominees according to strict criteria. The panel comprised Keith Barnes (Balmain), Kevin Humphreys (Balmain), John 'Chow' Hayes (Wests), Rick Wayde (Wests) and Ian Heads (Independent). A Western Suburbs and a Balmain Tigers team has been selected by the panel representing each club, before the unenviable task of selecting the best combined team took place.

Wests Tigers Team of the Century

Fullback: Keith Barnes (c)
Wingers: Peter Dimond, Alan Ridley
Centres: Charles Fraser, Harry Wells
Five-Eighth: Vic Hey
Halfback: Keith Holman
Lock: Wayne Pearce
Second Row: Paul Sironen, Arthur Beetson
Front Row: Steve Roach, Noel Kelly
Hooker: Ben Elias

Reserves: Kel O'Shea, Jim Craig, Tom Raudonikis, Harry Bath

Coach: Norm "Latchem" Robinson

Balmain Tigers Team of the Century

Fullback: Keith Barnes (c)
Wingers: Larry Corowa, Arthur Patton
Centres: Charles Fraser, Jim Craig
Five-Eighth: Jack Devery
Halfback: Arthur Halloway
Lock: Wayne Pearce
Second Row: Paul Sironen, Harry Bath
Front Row: Steve Roach, Arthur Beetson
Hooker: Ben Elias

Reserves: Tom Burke, Tim Brasher, Peter Provan, Bob Boland

Coach: Norm "Latchem" Robinson

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"The most constructive or destructive player I have ever seen in over 30 years" -

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courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

"We got the players to fill in a survey when we came to Easts and sent it off to the United States to be analysed." "When it came back, it showed that Beetson was a born leader. he came out top of the class. So we gave him a shot at the captaincy, and he never looked back."

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courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

Gibson said of Beetson:

"He could do it all on a football field and he could sell season tickets. He was an entertainer and a great player. He was good to coach; he was co-operative and he could take tough coaching.... you didn't have to mince words or sweetheart him. He contributed - he was generous and he helped other people. He never blamed anyone else.... if he had a bad game, he'd admit it."

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courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

Beetson made his biggest headlines that season when he was omitted from the Australian team for the opening game of the World Series, against New Zealand. The ARL chief Kevin Humphreys refused to accept the team without Beeton's name in it, so the selectors reluctantly included him, and named him Captain. But Beetson, never one to rely on the charity of others, withdrew from the team when told of the circumstances of his selection.

"It was a slap in the face," Beetson said some time later. "I thought I had been playing the best football of my career. But there had been some deals done in the selection room and I was made a scapegoat. It was a matter of pride. I couldn't play knowing the selectors didn't think I was worthy of the job"

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courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

The call of nature became too much for Artie.

"One night we were playing Bradford Northern at Odsal Stadium," O'Reilly tells, "The field was down a massive set of stairs from the dressing room and it was a real climb. At halftime, you didn't even go back up - it was that far - they had a little hut for us to rest in.

"Early in the second half, Arthur told the referee he was busting for a leak, but the referee said he couldn't hold up the game for Arthur to climb up all those steps to the dressing room and come back. The big fella had a solution. 'Don't worry about that,' he told the referee. 'Just give me a few of my boys around me for protection and I'll do it right here. 'So we formed a ring around Arthur so the crowd couldn't see anything and he did it right there in the middle of the field. Luckily for him it was a foggy night and the crowd couldn't see too much at the best of times. But the poor Pommy ref couldn't believe it; he just stood there and shook his head.

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AT THE 1970 AUS V GB FINAL AT HEADINGLY LEEDS ...........MY HARDEST MAN MEMORY IS............ARTIE BEETSON AND CLIFF WATSON HAVING BEEN SENT OFF FOR FIGHTING..............WATCHING THEM WALKING OFF.STILL HAVING A GO AT EACH OTHER................THAT WAS REAL RUGBY LEAGUE...........NOT THE PROTECTED P/C PLAYERS WE SEE TODAY.........

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(Memories of the First State of Origin Clash 1980)

From reserve grade to QLD captain. AND he (Arthur Beetson) lead from the front.

We were standing on the hill at the XXXX brewery end.

Artie came on and the ground trembled under the roar from the crowd. We had been flogged year in and year out by NSW sides containing ex pat Qlders and we were dead set filthy. We sensed it, the crowd sensed it,
the players sensed it....we were seeing something extraordinarily special and we knew we were about to see probably the greatest sporting moment in Qld's history.

It was the end of being walloped.

To see Close and Meninga dominate Rogers and Cronin like they did will stay with me forever.

Likewsie Arthur standing up toe to toe with allcomers..what a night

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Although I'm a Hull FC fan , unless my memory has become clouded over the years I remember Artie Beetson when he broke his leg playing for Hull KR in the local derby. Rumour has it he floored the nearest Hull player and hobbled off the pitch.

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A wonderful website. Keith Pollard who had a story about Frank Foster has a wealth of stories about the game. He played in the Newcastle competition in the 70's (I think for Cessnock or Maitland).

Keith played in the same team as Frank, but the competition was stiff: Bill Holliday, Foster, Phil Lowe, 'Flash' Flanagan who died recently. We had, for an all too brief time Big Artie Beetson. He played only about 12 games, but left an indelible imprint on anyone who saw him; and in particular those who saw him a reserve grade game against Huddersfield. He flattened the huge forward Ian Van Bellen and another player who had been baiting him all the game and just walked off the paddock before the referee pointed to the tunnel. I remember Frank Foster telling me he was about the best forward he had ever seen or played with. And Frank wasn't one for praising much. Keith Pollard said Frank told him that Brian McTigue, although not an enforcer, wasn't someone to tangle with. I've got a lot of Frank stories myself as my dad was a good pal of Frank's.




In 73 (touring Roos) Artie was head and shoulders above the rest.



Personally, I deride the modern game. The scrums are a joke and the 10 metre rule has killed off the great ball playing backs like Murphy and Millward in the British game. Same in the forwards. In those days you had to have the skills to break defences, because they were stood on top of you. Artie was the best ball playing forward I've seen and McTigue wasn't far behind.

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(1) I took my wife-to-be to Origin 1 (1980) and must admit that by the end of the game I couldn't have decided whether it was her or Artie I revered the most. Wally played a cameo role of what we would see for the next ten years.

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Today was just like any other day in my usually tedious life. As fate would have it I was rostered on by myself, and having just cooked for a bus of 30 people was quite drained and slower than usual locking the restaurant up.

As fate would have it a rather large gentleman without my knowing walked into the premises and with a bellowing HELLO! Is anybody here, I proceeded through the doors back into the restaurant.

Quite taken aback by the man who was before me but also rather elated, after all it’s not everyday in downtown Emerald that a person comes across a legend. One of the greatest legends of the worlds best sports.

That being ‘Rugby League’. A representative of A legend that though excited to see was also somewhat curious to ask a few questions of.

You see my father Brian Clancy was always very quick to tell his clan that when Artie was younger, he and his brothers were relatively mischievous. This one night in particular he no doubtedly must have been up to nonsense because Dad had to apparently hit him with his baton.

My god you say fancy having to hit Artie Beetson the league legend with a baton, and being the person that my father is and never knowing what white lies come out of his mouth we too thought oh yeh! here we go again.

So after introducing myself and shaking his hand I took his breakfast order of; four fried eggs, wholemeal toast (cold), four slices of cold tomato, orange juice and a pot of tea.

I gathered up enough courage to be so bold as to ask him for his autograph which he obliged without hesitation, and then I said to him; ‘I don’t know if it’s true or not but my father reckons he hit you over the head with his baton when you were younger’.

Now very curiously he turned to me and asked who my father was, to which I replied sheepishly, Brian Clancy.

Well he said your father was telling you the truth, he remembered distinctly the time this happened. Artie was only fourteen and a half, doing something he shouldn’t have been doing on the streets of Roma. He remembers so well that he even recalls the other two policemen who were with my father at the time; Wally Payne and a Keith Anderson.

He said to tell my father that he done him a real favour, and that it was a real wake up call for him the best thing that happened to him.

He also said to tell my father that Arties brothers didn’t turn out too bad either both becoming engineers on the oil rigs, although Pedro has retired now because of two heart bypasses.

And so it was that fateful day, a beautiful day on the 7/6/08 that I can honestly say was one of the best days in my life for the fact that now I know that my father was telling the truth “this time”!

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