Thread: RIP Artie Beetson

Artie Beetson dead


Arthur Beetson Dead: Queensland Mourns State of Origin League Great



Rugby league great Arthur Beetson died this morning at the age of 66 after suffering a heart attack.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said officers were called to a home at Paradise Point on the Gold Coast where a man had suffered a heart attack and fallen from a bicycle shortly before 9am.

Paramedics performed CPR but he was unable to be resuscitated and was taken to Gold Coast Hospital.

Beetson was one of only seven rugby league Immortals, along with Clive Churchill, Bob Fulton, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands and Wally Lewis.

He was the first indigenous captain of Australia in any sport, as well as captaining Queensland in the first State of Origin match in 1980 at the age of 35.

'Mate, he was State of Origin'

Beetson was instrumental to the Maroons' early success, and that of the State of Origin concept.

He famously clobbered then-Parramatta teammate and Blues opponent Mick Cronin in the inaugural game, supposedly proving that representing Queensland meant more to him than club loyalties.

"Mate, he was State of Origin," Ross Livermore, the managing director of Queensland Rugby League for 30 years said this morning.

"He just had something about him."

Current Queensland Origin coach and Beetson teammate in the inaugural Maroons team Mal Meninga was rocked by the news this morning.

"I hold him dear to my heart, especially in my early years, he was very influential for my growth as a man," Meninga said.

"He was one of the people I admire greatly, not only for his footy, what he did on the park, but what he did as a human being for his people and for business people as well.

"It’s a tragedy."

Beetson's influence on young indigenous players was immense.

Meninga first met Beetson in the lead-up to that first Origin game in 1980, and said the veteran changed his perspective on being an indigenous footballer.

"He was part of the Origin start-up, he was instrumental in all that obviously," Meninga said.

"Came back home, captained Queensland in the very first Origin game.

"But my thoughts revolve around his thoughts on me as a person.

"He was instrumental in making me proud of my heritage and that sort of thing."

Beetson's reputation among indigenous players lives on in the current generation, such as star Queensland halfback Johnathan Thurston.

"Artie was an inspiration to all indigenous rugby league players, including myself, and will always be remembered as one of the greats of the game," Thurston said today.

"Very few people have done as much for Queensland rugby league as he has.

"Artie was a true Queensland icon."

Beetson's death came on a day when he was due to chaperone hundreds of young indigenous children through Dreamworld as part of a FOGS [Queensland Former Origin Greats] program named in his honour, the Artie Program - Achieving Results Through Indigenous Education.

"Today was the day we celebrate with the kids who achieved their goals, so we are down at White Water World at Dreamworld with 400 indigenous kids and I was expecting Arthur to walk through the gates about 10am," fellow FOG Gene Miles said.

"Instead I got the message of his passing. I'm totally shattered ...

"He said he'd see me around 10 to help out flipping the burgers and obviously polishing a few off," Miles said with a chuckle.

Beyond sport

Such was Beetson’s impact on the game and beyond that politicians have joined the chorus of tributes, noting his impact on and off the field.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard paid tribute to Beetson and extended her sympathies to his family, friends and rugby league community.

“Mr Beetson broke new ground as the first Indigenous Australian to captain a national side in any sport,’’ she said in a statement.

“His brilliance on the field remains seared into the memory of rugby league fans.

“Mr Beetson will be remembered as one of Australia’s greatest ever players in an iconic period for his sport.’’

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine, who was Labor’s first indigenous national president, described Beetson as a “great survivor’’.

“To see a bloke like Artie coming down from Queensland out of Roma, to the city and making a name for himself and build such as legendary career - he had more comebacks than Dame Nellie Melba – was just amazing. We all just loved him,’’ he said.

Weight battle

A renowned big eater, Beetson's weight peaked at 156 kilograms in 1994 before trimming down back to near his playing weight of 110 kilograms.

He battled weight-related health issues all his life, and Miles revealed this morning that bike riding had become a daily part of his effort to maintain his health.

"That's the way he ticked that box; he used to go for a ride every morning," Miles said.

"We often used to go on about that poor racing bike that he had and he used to put his crash helmet on that looked like a six-inch roofing nail on his head and away he'd go.

"That's how he got out there and got active."

Outstanding career

Beetson played 14 Tests for Australia as well as representing his country in 14 World Cup matches (which then did not count as Tests).

He had two successful terms as Queensland coach (1981-84, 89-90) for an overall record of 11 wins from 16 matches.

Born in Roma, where Darren Lockyer also grew up, he was also an integral part of Jack Gibson's high-achieving Eastern Suburbs team of the mid-1970s.

Another Origin great Chris Close said no better forward ever played the game.

"He was the best forward I've ever seen in my lifetime and I have a great admiration and respect for the man.

"As a matter of fact, I'd go as far as to say I loved him.

"He had a big influence on my life and thousands of others and he'll be sadly, sadly missed."

Beetson was made the number one member of the FOGS by Dick "Tosser" Turner as his football career folded.

Today Miles credited his involvement with sparking the Maroon spirit that has seen Queensland dominate State of Origin.

"He made sure that the players who represented Queensland at State of Origin level certainly kept that tradition and legacy going," Miles said.

On the field, Miles remembered Beetson as a great offloader, something he hoped would not be forgotten.

"He was one of the greatest ball players ever and I think it is fair to say that a lot of people have tried but no one has ever come up to that standard of his offloads."

Close said Beetson's passing would leave a huge hole in Queensland rugby league circles.

"He'll be missed by more people than you can imagine," Close said.

"In 1980, he led a march which resulted in Queensland being the most dominant rugby league state you'd ever see and I think all the success can be largely attributed to that one game that he played."

Spoke his mind

In recent years, Beetson had fallen out with rugby league administrators.

He boycotted the Centenary Ball in 2008 where he was due to be acknowledged as a member of the Team of the Century.

At the time he said he would not be attending the gala ball because of his fears for the future of the sport, as well as the fact he couldn't wear shorts and thongs to the event.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh told State Parliament about the death just after 10am and offered her sympathies.

"This morning Queensland has lost one of its legends and one of its favourite sons," she said.

"He loved his league, he loved his Queensland and his loss will be felt by many."

Federal Minister for Sport Senator Mark Arbib said his first rugby league sporting memories were of Beetson winning the 1974 and 1975 premierships but it was the work he did after playing that resonated with the indigenous community.

"Artie was an inspirational role model who dedicated his post-playing career to ensuring indigenous Australians were given the best opportunities available," Senator Arbib said.

"At every FOGS expo Artie attended the kids would run up to him asking for photos, autographs and advice and Artie always obliged.

"He gave kids the message that they could achieve anything they set their minds to by staying at school and getting a good education."

RIP, he was from the old school, a tough nut and a giant of the game.

R.I.P. Artie, a legend.
66!!!!????????? Fuck time flies.

Was probational the greatest ball distributor in League, standing like a giant sending players through caps with sometimes 3 or 4 opposition players hanging of him.

Liked a beer and a pie and a good bloke in real life.

Rest in peace Artie. A legend you will always be.

Sad day , we've lost a good one

A Legend.

Played 12 games for Hull Kingston Rovers in 1968 but broke his leg in the derby with Hull FC.
BBC Sport - Former Hull KR star Artie Beetson dies of heart attack