Arthur Beetson
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Arthur Henry Beetson, born January 22, 1945 in Roma, Queensland, was a leading rugby league player for Queensland and Australia from 1964 to 1981. He was a Prop.
His career began with Redcliffe in the Brisbane competition between 1964 and 1965. He then moved to Sydney to play with the Balmain Tigers from 1966 to 1970, and later joined the Eastern Suburbs club from 1972 to 1978, where he captained the side to the 1974 and 75 premierships. This Easts team would go down as one of the greatest club sides in Rugby League history. During this period he also played with distinction for Australia. He possessed great strength and toughness, a surprising turn of speed for a big man and was unequalled as a ball player.
After two years with Parramatta in 1979 and 1980, he returned to Queensland for one final year with his old Redcliffe team in 1981.
Beetson achieved immortality as captain of Queensland in the inaugural State of Origin game, won 20-10 by Queensland on 8 July 1980.
He is one of Australia's best ever fowards, and was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2003.
[edit] Further reading
- Arthur Beetson with Ian Heads, Big Artie The Autobiography ABC Books 2004. ISBN 0-7333-1299-3
| Preceded by: Jack Gibson 1974-76 |
Coach Eastern Suburbs Roosters 1977-1978 |
Succeeded by: Bob Fulton 1979-1982 |
| Preceded by: Laurie Freier 1983-84 |
Coach Eastern Suburbs Roosters 1985-1988 |
Succeeded by: Russell Fairfax 1989-1990 |
| Preceded by: Allan Fitzgibbon 1988-91 |
Coach Cronulla Sharks 1992-1993 |
Succeeded by: John Lang 1994-2001 |
| Preceded by: Mark Murray 1991-94 |
Coach Eastern Suburbs Roosters 1994 |
Succeeded by: Phil Gould 1995-1999 |
| Preceded by: John McDonald 1980 |
Coach Queensland State of Origin 1981-1984 |
Succeeded by: Des Morris 1985 |
| Preceded by: Wayne Bennett 1986-1988 |
Coach Queensland State of Origin 1989-1990 |
Succeeded by: Graham Lowe 1991-1992 |
