Arthur Beetson
Prop, Second row
Player Bio
- Honoured:
- 2003
- Date of Birth:
- 21 January 1945
- Birthplace:
- Roma, Queensland
- Nickname:
- Artie
- Debut Team:
- Redcliffe
- Date:
- 05 April 1964
- Opposition:
- Northern Suburbs
- Venue:
- Lang Park, Brisbane
- Representative:
- City, Sydney, New South Wales, Combined Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Clubs:
- Roma Cities, Redcliffe, Balmain Tigers, Hull Kingston Rovers, Eastern Suburbs Roosters, Parramatta Eels
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1965, 1974-75
- Kangaroo Tour: 1973
- Australian captain: 8 Tests
- Courier-Mail Best and Fairest: 1965
- NSWRL Player of the Year: 1976
- Rugby League Week Player of the Year: 1974
- Grand Final man of the match*: 1974
- Australian Rugby League Team of the Century: 2008
- Queensland Team of the Century: 2008
- Immortal: 2003
- Rated No. 16 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
- Named in NRL Team of the 1960s: 2006
- Named in NRL Team of the 1970s: 2005
- Premierships: 1965 (BRL), 1974-75
Playing
- First Class Games
- 438
- Points
- 155
- Tries
- 51
Biography
Arthur Beetson's future talents as a ball-playing front-rower were honed in his teenage years when he played at centre or five-eighth in his home-town of Roma in western Queensland.
It wasn't until he arrived in the big smoke of Brisbane in 1965 that coach Henry Holloway suggested a move into the forwards. There, Beetson established himself as arguably the finest ball-playing front-rower of a generation.
He headed to Sydney a year after claiming a premiership with Redcliffe and made his name at Balmain, where he was coached by Harry Bath.
Beetson represented Australia in his first season in Sydney, earning the nickname ''Half-a-game Artie'' after a marvellous cameo in the Ashes-deciding third Test against Great Britain.
Struggling with a shoulder injury, Beetson laid on tries for wingers Johnny King and Ken Irvine that helped to secure the Ashes for Australia.
Beetson switched to Eastern Suburbs in 1971 where he developed his skills further under coaches Don Furner and later Jack Gibson and led the Roosters to consecutive premiership wins.
In 1973 he became the first Aboriginal to captain Australia in any sport.
He captained Queensland in the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980, which ushered in a new era for the game. Beetson was named Rugby League Week's seventh Immortal in 2003. He passed away in 2011.
“Over 30 years I have never seen a more constructive or destructive player.”
Don Furner Former Kangaroo coach
72. Arthur Beetson - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roma Cities | 1963 | 1963 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Redcliffe | Brisbane Club Competition |
1964
1981 |
1965
1981 |
56 | 13 | - | - | 39 |
| Redcliffe | Official Pre-Season | 1981 | 1981 | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| Balmain Tigers | Premiership | 1966 | 1970 | 74 | 6 | 1 | - | 20 |
| Balmain Tigers | Official Pre-Season |
1966
1970 |
1968
1970 |
19 | 4 | - | - | 12 |
| Hull Kingston Rovers | England First Class Games | 1968 | 1969 | 12 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Premiership | 1971 | 1978 | 131 | 17 | - | - | 51 |
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Official Pre-Season | 1972 | 1977 | 22 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Mid-Week Competitions | 1974 | 1978 | 14 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Parramatta Eels | Official Pre-Season | 1980 | 1980 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Parramatta Eels | Premiership | 1979 | 1980 | 18 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Parramatta Eels | Mid-Week Competitions | 1979 | 1980 | 5 | - | - | - | - |
Representative Career
City - Country
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Firsts | Country Firsts |
1966
1968
1970
1973
1977 |
1966
1968
1970
1975
1977 |
7 | - | - | - | - |
| City Seconds | Country Seconds | 1971 | 1971 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| City | Country |
1967
1970 |
1967
1970 |
2 | - | - | - | - |
Intercity
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Brisbane | Tooth Cup | 1981 | 1981 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland |
1966
1968
1970
1972
1977 |
1966
1968
1970
1975
1977 |
17 | 3 | - | - | 9 |
| New South Wales | Touring Sides | 1966 | 1966 | 1 | - | - | - | - | |
| Queensland | State of Origin | New South Wales | 1980 | 1981 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests and World Cup |
1966
1968
1970
1972
1977 |
1966
1968
1970
1975
1977 |
28 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Australia | Tour Matches | 1972 | 1975 | 19 | 3 | - | - | 9 |
Other Representative
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Touring Teams | 1966 | 1966 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Latest
Immortals
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
