View source for Arthur Beetson

{{short description|Australian former RL coach & Australia international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name             = Arthur Beetson
| image            = Arthur Beetson (26 October 2008).jpg
| image_size       = 150px
| caption          = <small>Beetson in 2008</small>
| full_name        = Arthur Henry Beetson
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|df=yes|1945|01|21}}
| birth_place      = [[Roma, Queensland]], Australia
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2011|12|01|1945|01|21}}
| death_place      = [[Paradise Point, Queensland]], Australia
| position         = {{Rlp|PR|SR}}
| height           = {{convert|188|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="Rugby League Week">{{cite journal |title=World Series |journal=[[Rugby League Week]] |issue=1975–1976 |pages=85 |publisher=Rugby League Week Pty Ltd |location=Rushcutters Bay, NSW }}</ref>
| weight           = {{convert|16|st|8|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="Rugby League Week"/>
| club1            = [[Redcliffe Dolphins]]
| year1start       = 1964
| year1end         = 65
| appearances1     = 40
| tries1           = 13
| goals1           = 0
| fieldgoals1      = 0
| points1          = 52
| club2            = [[Balmain Tigers]]
| year2start       = 1966
| year2end         = 70
| appearances2     = 74
| tries2           = 6
| goals2           = 0
| fieldgoals2      = 1
| points2          = 20
| club3            = {{nowrap|[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]}}
| year3start       = 1968
| year3end         = 
| appearances3     = 12
| tries3           = 1
| goals3           = 0
| fieldgoals3      = 0
| points3          = 3
| club4            = [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]] 
| year4start       = 1971
| year4end         = 78
| appearances4     = 131
| tries4           = 17
| goals4           = 0
| fieldgoals4      = 0
| points4          = 51
| club5            = [[Parramatta Eels]]
| year5start       = 1979
| year5end         = 80
| appearances5     = 16
| tries5           = 1
| goals5           = 0
| fieldgoals5      = 0
| points5          = 3
| club6            = [[Redcliffe Dolphins]]
| year6start       = 1981
| year6end         =
| appearances6     = 16
| tries6           = 0
| goals6           = 0
| fieldgoals6      = 0
| points6          = 0
| teamA            = [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]]
| yearAstart       = 1966
| yearAend         = 77
| appearancesA     = 18
| triesA           = 3
| goalsA           = 0
| fieldgoalsA      = 0
| pointsA          = 9
| teamB            = [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]]
| yearBstart       = 1980
| yearBend         = 81
| appearancesB     = 3
| triesB           = 0
| goalsB           = 0
| fieldgoalsB      = 0
| pointsB          = 0
| teamC            = South Queensland
| yearCstart       = 1981
| yearCend         = 
| appearancesC     = 1
| triesC           = 0
| goalsC           = 0
| fieldgoalsC      = 0
| pointsC          = 0
| teamD            = [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]
| yearDstart       = 1966
| yearDend         = 77
| appearancesD     = 29
| triesD           = 1
| goalsD           = 0
| fieldgoalsD      = 0
| pointsD          = 3
| retired          = yes
| coachteam1       = [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]]
| coachyear1start  = 1977
| coachyear1end    = 78
| coachgames1      = 45
| coachwins1       = 29
| coachdraws1      = 1
| coachlosses1     = 17
| coachteam2       = [[Redcliffe Dolphins]]
| coachyear2start  = 1981
| coachyear2end    = 82
| coachgames2      = 38
| coachwins2       = 22
| coachdraws2      = 0
| coachlosses2     = 16
| coachteam3       = [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]]
| coachyear3start  = 1985
| coachyear3end    = 88
| coachgames3      = 97
| coachwins3       = 42
| coachdraws3      = 9
| coachlosses3     = 48
| coachteam4       = [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks|Cronulla Sharks]]
| coachyear4start  = 1992
| coachyear4end    = 93
| coachgames4      = 44
| coachwins4       = 17
| coachdraws4      = 0
| coachlosses4     = 27
| coachteam5       = [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]]
| coachyear5start  = 1994
| coachyear5end    =
| coachgames5      = 6
| coachwins5       = 2
| coachdraws5      = 0
| coachlosses5     = 4
| coachteamA       = [[Brisbane rugby league team|Brisbane]]
| coachyearAstart  = 1981
| coachyearAend    = 82
| coachgamesA      = 5
| coachwinsA       = 2
| coachdrawsA      = 0
| coachlossesA     = 3
| coachteamB       = South Queensland
| coachyearBstart  = 1981
| coachyearBend    = 
| coachgamesB      = 1
| coachwinsB       = 1
| coachdrawsB      = 0
| coachlossesB     = 0
| coachteamC       = [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]]
| coachyearCstart  = 1981
| coachyearCend    = 84
| coachgamesC      = 10
| coachwinsC       = 7
| coachdrawsC      = 0
| coachlossesC     = 3
| coachteamD       = [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]
| coachyearDstart  = 1983
| coachyearDend    =
| coachgamesD      = 2
| coachwinsD       = 1
| coachdrawsD      = 0
| coachlossesD     = 1
| coachteamE       = [[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]]
| coachyearEstart  = 1989
| coachyearEend    = 90
| coachgamesE      = 6
| coachwinsE       = 4
| coachdrawsE      = 0
| coachlossesE     = 2
| updated          = 11 February 2021
| source       =<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/arthur-beetson/summary.html |title=Arthur Beetson – Summary – Rugby League Project |website=Rugbyleagueproject.org |access-date=17 May 2020 |archive-date=12 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112112419/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/arthur-beetson/summary.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=909]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/arthur-beetson/summary.html |title=Arthur Beetson – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project |website=Rugbyleagueproject.org |access-date=17 May 2020 |archive-date=13 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213090152/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/arthur-beetson/summary.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson''' [[Medal of the Order of Australia|OAM]] (21 January 1945<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/beetson-arthur-henry-artie-16716 |title=Biography – Arthur Henry (Artie) Beetson – Indigenous Australia |website=Ia.anu.edu.au |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203190302/http://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/beetson-arthur-henry-artie-16716 |url-status=live }}</ref> – 1 December 2011<ref name="dailytelegraph.com.au">[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/rugby-league-great-arthur-beetson-dead-after-suffering-heart-attack-while-exercising/story-e6frexnr-1226211083941 Rugby league great Arthur Beetson dead after suffering heart attack while exercising] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016211241/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/rugby-league-great-arthur-beetson-dead-after-suffering-heart-attack-while-exercising/news-story/5aba17cae41baf8ac279e1631298e2fa?nk=b8997d03962bcf99d25140eab1176c58-1571260361 |date=16 October 2019 }} article at dailytelegraph.com.au</ref>) was an Australian [[rugby league]] footballer and coach. He represented [[Australian Kangaroos|Australia]], [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] and [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]] all between 1964 and 1981. His main position was at {{rlp|pr}}. Beetson became the first [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous Australian]] to captain Australia in any sport<ref name="dailytelegraph.com.au"/> and is frequently cited as the best post-war forward in Australian rugby league history. He also had an extensive coaching career, spanning the 1970s to the 1990s, coaching Australia, Queensland, [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]], [[Redcliffe Dolphins]] and the [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]].

He is also remembered as man of great humility who cared deeply about his people and culture. The '''Arthur Beetson Foundation''' was so named to honour Beetson, and the '''Arthur Beetson Medal''' is awarded to rugby league players who show both outstanding skills and similar personal qualities to Beetson.

==Background==
Beetson's mother was a member of the [[Stolen Generation]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Toby Creswell and Samantha Trenoweth |title=1001 Australians You Should Know |publisher=Pluto Press |year=2006 |location=Australia |pages=641 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QqtinbjO0oEC&q=rugby |isbn=978-1-86403-361-8}}
</ref> He was born in [[Roma, Queensland]] on 21 January 1945.

==Playing career==
Beetson's big frame, pure speed and brilliant ball skills won countless games for all his teams. His off-loading and attacking workrate broke the mould for front rowers and changed the way they played the game.

===1960s===
Beetson's rugby league career began with [[Redcliffe Dolphins|Redcliffe]] in the [[Brisbane Rugby League]] competition between 1964 and 1965. After winning the club's player of the year award in 1965 as well as the [[Brisbane Rugby League premiership]] with them, he moved to Sydney to play in the [[New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership]] with the [[Balmain Tigers|Balmain club]]. The [[1966 NSWRFL season]] was his first and he gained selection for the [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales team]] and played in that season's grand final against St. George at second-row forward. Beetson was also selected to make his representative début for Australia against England and set up the first two tries. He represented Australia again at the [[1968 Rugby League World Cup]], playing at prop forward in the win against France in the [[1968 Rugby League World Cup final|tournament final]]. Beetson then played with Balmain, with a spell in England with [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] in 1968.<ref>[http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/news/article.php?id=1186 Queensland Team of the Century] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203171828/http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/news/article.php?id=1186 |date=3 December 2010 }} article at australianrugbyleague.com.au</ref>

===1970s===
After the [[1970 NSWRFL season]] Beetson left [[Balmain Tigers|Balmain]] to join the [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]] club where he would stay from 1971 to 1978. He possessed great strength and toughness, a surprising turn of speed for a big man and was unequalled as a ball player. Beetson continued to represent Australia at the [[1972 Rugby League World Cup]], playing against [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] at prop forward in the [[1972 Rugby League World Cup final|tournament final]] which was drawn. On the [[1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France]], he was selected as Australia's vice captain, playing at prop forward in all three [[The Ashes (rugby league)|Ashes]] [[Test match (rugby league)|test matches]]. Beetson then became the first aboriginal player to captain Australia in the second test against [[France national rugby league team|France]].

His skill as a footballer was matched only by his skill as an eater, earning nicknames such as 'Meat Pie Artie'. He was known and immortalised by his performance of eating 11 hot dogs before a gala dinner for the Australian team in 1973. Beetson captained Eastern Suburbs to the [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1974#Grand Final|1974]] and [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1975#Grand Final|1975]] premierships. During this period Beetson also continued playing with distinction for Australia and in 1974 he was named as ''[[Rugby League Week]]'''s player of the year. During the [[1976 NSWRFL season]], Beetson captained Eastern Suburbs to victory in their unofficial [[1976 World Club Challenge]] match against British champions [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]] in Sydney. This Easts team would go down as one of the greatest club sides in rugby league history. Beetson joined the [[Parramatta Eels]] in 1979.

===1980s===
While still playing in Sydney for Parramatta, Beetson achieved further immortality as captain of Queensland in the inaugural [[1980 State of Origin game]], won 20–10 by Queensland on 8 July. He capped off that year with a man-of-the-match performance in the Eels' 8-5 Tooth Cup Final win over Balmain. Beetson returned to Queensland for one final year of playing with his old Redcliffe team in 1981, where he also captain-coached the [[Datsun]] South Queensland side to a 59-3 victory over Papua New Guinea. He also captained Queensland for the final 'traditional' interstate match in 1981 and at the end of the season the Dolphins were beaten in the final minute of the grand final by [[Souths Magpies|Southern Suburbs]].

==Post-playing==
Beetson's coaching career began while still playing for [[Sydney Roosters|Easts]] in 1977. He was captain-coach of [[Redcliffe Dolphins|Redcliffe]] in 1981 and that season was appointed coach of the [[Queensland State of Origin]] side, taking them to repeated series victories over [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] from 1981 to 1984. Beetson also coached the [[Brisbane rugby league team]] in 1981. He had a brief, but unsuccessful period, coaching Australia in 1983 before returning to coach his former club [[Sydney Roosters|Eastern Suburbs]], from 1985 to 1988, being named Coach of the Year in 1987. Also in 1987 he received the Medal of the [[Order of Australia]] "in recognition of service to the sport of Rugby League".

After stepping down as Queensland coach following the [[1990 State of Origin series]] loss to NSW, Beetson became part of the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]'s commentary team in 1991 for their ''Saturday Afternoon League'' telecasts alongside chief caller, former [[Western Suburbs Magpies|Western Suburbs]] winger [[Warren Boland]], as well as his former Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta teammate [[John Peard]] and [[Canterbury Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bankstown]] media liaison [[Debbie Spillane]], both of whom worked on the sidelines.

Beetson coached the [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] for the 1992 and 1993 seasons, where he enjoyed mixed success. Part-way through the [[1994 NSWRL season]] Beetson briefly replaced the sacked [[Mark Murray (rugby league)|Mark Murray]] as coach of the [[Eastern Suburbs Roosters]]. Beetson has also spent many years as a recruitment officer for both Eastern Suburbs and Queensland.

In the post-[[1999 NRL season]] an Aboriginal side managed by Arthur Beetson defeated the [[Papua New Guinea national rugby league team|Papua New Guinean national team]]. He then pushed, unsuccessfully, for an [[Australia Day]] match against the [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian national team]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hanna |first=Jim |title=Artie wants first pick, then a Test against Fittler and Co. |work=[[Australian Associated Press|AAP]] Sports News |place=Australia |publisher=The Gale Group, Inc. |date=16 October 1999 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-23740928.html |access-date=10 August 2010}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
He also appeared at the Beenleigh (QLD) lions JRLFC as an Assistant Coach to the Beenleigh Lions JRLFC under 18s (2009) alongside Michael Hansen (Coach) before his untimely passing.

==Accolades==
[[File:Big Artie the autobiography.jpg|left|130px]]
*1975 NSW Sports Star of the year
*Named in [[Australian rugby league's 100 greatest players]]
*Named at prop forward in [[Australian rugby league team of the century]]
*Named at prop forward in [[Queensland rugby league team of the century]]
*Named at prop forward in [[Indigenous All Stars (rugby league)|Indigenous Australian rugby league team]] of the century
*First [[Aboriginal Australians|Indigenous Australian]] to captain the [[Australian Kangaroos|Australian Test team]] (vs [[France national rugby league team|France]] for the 2nd France vs Australia Test on the [[1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France|1973 Kangaroo tour]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/france-vs-australia-1973/game-2/france-vs-australia/summary.html |title=France vs Australia 1973 Series |author=Shawn Dollin and Andrew Ferguson |date=28 January 2016 |access-date=29 January 2016 |archive-date=5 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205172327/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/france-vs-australia-1973/game-2/france-vs-australia/summary.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Beetson is often regarded as Australia's best ever forward, and in 2000 he was awarded the [[Australian Sports Medal]], then in 2001 the [[Centenary Medal]] "for service to Australian society through the sport of rugby league".  He was inducted into the [[Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame]] in 2003. In May 2004 his book, ''Big Artie: The Autobiography'' was published.  Also that year he became the seventh selected post-war "[[The Immortals (rugby league)|Immortal]]" of the Australian game with [[Clive Churchill|Churchill]], [[Johnny Raper|Raper]], [[Reg Gasnier|Gasnier]], [[Bob Fulton|Fulton]], [[Graeme Langlands|Langlands]] and [[Wally Lewis]].

In February 2008, Beetson was named in a list of Australia's [[List of Australian rugby league's 100 greatest players|''100 Greatest Players'']] (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the [[National Rugby League|NRL]] and [[Australian Rugby League|ARL]] to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |website=[[National Rugby League|NRL]] & [[Australian Rugby League|ARL]] |title=Centenary of Rugby League – The Players |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080226180521/http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2008 |access-date=23 February 2008 |date=23 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Peter Cassidy |publisher=Macquarie National News |title=Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players |url=http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players |access-date=23 February 2008 |date=23 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225164807/http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players |archive-date=25 February 2008 |df=dmy}}</ref> Beetson went on to be named in the front-row in [[Australian Rugby League's Team of the Century|Australian rugby league's Team of the Century]]. Announced on 17 April 2008, the team is the panel's majority choice for each of the thirteen starting positions and four interchange players.<ref>{{cite news |author=Todd Balym |publisher=Fox Sports Australia |title=Johns, Meninga among Immortals |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23557351-23214,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907035412/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23557351-23214,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 September 2012 |access-date=17 April 2008 |date=17 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=[[National Rugby League|NRL]] & [[Australian Rugby League|ARL]] |title=Team of the Century Announced |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/news--reviews/media-releases/team-of-the-century-announced.aspx |access-date=17 April 2008 |date=17 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521122127/http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/news--reviews/media-releases/team-of-the-century-announced.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy}}</ref> Beetson chose to boycott the presentation ceremony, stating that he did not agree with the direction rugby league is taking.<ref>{{cite news |author=Glenn Jackson |publisher=Fairfax Digital |title=Immortal Beetson boycotts centenary ball |url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/immortal-beetson-boycotts-centenary-ball/2008/04/16/1208025283410.html |access-date=17 April 2008 |date=17 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420072332/http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/immortal-beetson-boycotts-centenary-ball/2008/04/16/1208025283410.html |archive-date=20 April 2008}}</ref> In June 2008, he was chosen in the [[Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century]] at second-row.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23843448-10389,00.html |newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]] |date=10 June 2008 |title=Locky named No.1 but Wal's still King |access-date=20 May 2009 |first=Steve |last=Ricketts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702003008/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23843448-10389,00.html |archive-date=2 July 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
In 2008, [[rugby league in Australia]]'s centenary year, Beetson was named at second-row forward in the Toowoomba and South West Team of the Century.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leslie |first=Cameron |title=Rugby League Team of the Century named |url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2008/08/21/team-of-greats-shows-depthof-south-west/ |access-date=8 January 2012 |newspaper=[[The Toowoomba Chronicle|The Chronicle]] |date=21 August 2008 |archive-date=10 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210060059/http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2008/08/21/team-of-greats-shows-depthof-south-west/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
He was made a life member of the [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] and a plaque in the Walk of Honour there commemorates his career. He is a recipient of the Medal of the [[Order of Australia]] (OAM).

As part of the Centenary of League celebrations in 2008, Beetson was retrospectively awarded the [[Clive Churchill Medal]] as ''Man of the Match'' in the 1974 Grand final.<ref>{{cite news |author=James Dampney |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney |title=Greats to get man-of-match awards |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24429346-5006066,00.html |access-date=3 January 2008 |date=1 October 2008 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924164338/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009 Beetson was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mr Arthur Beetson OAM |url=http://www.qsport.org.au/qshof/biography.asp?ID=22 |work=Queensland Sport Hall of Fame |publisher=qsport.org.au |access-date=20 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126085115/http://qsport.org.au/qshof/biography.asp?ID=22 |archive-date=26 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2010 a program was founded and named in honour of Arthur Beetson, the ARTIE Academy (Achieving Results Through Indigenous Education). An inspiration and role model for his people, Arthur was resolute in his beliefs about the absolute need for young Indigenous Australians to be educated, to finish school and to be employed. The ARTIE Academy operates with an innovative, high expectation, consistent and positive mindset. ARTIE is an academy that students are proud to be a part of. An academy that expects them to achieve to the best of their ability. An academy that will support them in times of need, but not accept excuses for a lack of commitment. ARTIE inspires its participants, encourages and informs them of their progress and celebrates their successes. The program is run by the FOGS (Former Origin Greats) organisation and funded under the "Closing the Gap" initiative. The program continues to operate in schools around Queensland.

Beetson's [[Queensland rugby league team#State of Origin era .281981 – present.29|Queensland State of Origin]] [[Rugby league positions#Prop|number 11]] jersey was "[[Retired number|retired]]" in 2014.

==Death==
On 1 December 2011, Beetson died following a heart attack while riding his bicycle at [[Paradise Point, Queensland|Paradise Point]] on the Gold Coast, Queensland. He was 66.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-01/arthur-beetson-dies/3706362 Arthur Beetson dies after heart attack] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201075435/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-01/arthur-beetson-dies/3706362 |date=1 December 2011 }} – Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Retrieved 1 December 2011.</ref>
[[File:Arthur Beetson Statue at Lang Park, Brisbane.jpg|thumb|Arthur Beetson Statue at Lang Park]]

==Honours and legacy==
The [[Premier of Queensland]], [[Anna Bligh]] announced that a bronze statue of Beetson was to be situated at [[Lang Park]].<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-04/beetson-to-be-immortalised-at-lang-park/3711740 Beetson to be immortalised at Lang Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204082802/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-04/beetson-to-be-immortalised-at-lang-park/3711740 |date=4 December 2011 }} – Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Retrieved 4 December 2011.</ref> It was unveiled on 3 July 2012.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-03/artie-statue-officially-unveiled/4107200?section=qld Artie statue officially unveiled] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703114346/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-03/artie-statue-officially-unveiled/4107200?section=qld |date=3 July 2012 }} – Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Retrieved 3 July 2012.</ref>

The Arthur Beetson Foundation was created to engage the community "to empower Indigenous Australians to better outcomes in health, education, sport, employment and business development", and the Arthur Beetson Medal honours rugby league players who have distinguished themselves who have shown not only skill on the field but some of the qualities embodied by Beetson and cares deeply about their people.<ref>{{cite web |website=Arthur Beetson Foundation |url=http://arthurbeetsonfoundation.com/ |title=About the Arthur Beetson Medal |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721040228/http://arthurbeetsonfoundation.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 16 December 2023, a [[Google Doodle]] was made to honour Beetson's life and career; the date was chosen because it marked 50 years since his appointment as captain a mainstream Australian sports team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrating Arthur Beetson Doodle - Google Doodles |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/celebrating-arthur-beetson/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=doodles.google |language=en}}</ref>

===Sydney Football Stadium grandstand naming controversy===
In February 2022, Beetson's family and supporters expressed their dismay at the [[Sydney Cricket Ground Trust]]'s decision not to nominate Beetson for the honour of having one of four new grandstands at the new [[Sydney Football Stadium (2022)|Sydney Football Stadium]] being named in his honour, despite overwhelming public support.<ref name=farce>{{cite news |last=Rothfield|first=Phil|date=1 February 2022|title=Arthur Beetson's family call for review over Sydney stadium naming farce|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/monday-buzz-arthur-beetson-brushed-in-sydney-stadium-naming-farce/news-story/3d5150d4cec8b74e69738e8e5482dc82|url-access=subscription|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|location=Sydney|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref>

While the family congratulated the three sporting identities who were nominated to have grandstands named after them ([[Ron Coote]], [[Johnny Warren]] and [[Nicholas Shehadie|Sir Nicholas Shehadie]]), they criticised the proposal to name a grandstand [[Garrison]] in recognition of locally based British troops from the 1850s.<ref name=farce/> [[Anthony Mundine]] and [[Megan Davis]] also condemned the decision not to put forward Beetson's name for the honour.<ref name=farce/>

Chairman of the SCG Trust heritage committee [[Maurice Newman]] said that Beetson "didn't make the cut" because he was a [[List of Queenslanders|Queenslander]], rejecting the assertion of it being a "snub" and questioned why there wasn't a grandstand named after Beetson in his home state at a venue such as Lang Park.<ref name=queenslander>{{cite news|last=Benns|first=Matthew|date=1 February 2022|title=Arthur Beetson stand at Sydney stadium rejected because he's a Queenslander|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/arthur-beetson-stand-at-sydney-stadium-rejected-because-hes-a-queenslander/news-story/ff1d80a550b0819775c5ff8b2ec7ee58|url-access=subscription|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> That reasoning was criticised by NRL historian David Middleton, and former players [[Peter Wynn]] and [[Mick Cronin (rugby league)|Mick Cronin]].<ref name=queenslander/> Rugby league commentator [[Ray Hadley]] also criticised the decision after an attempted compromise with an offer put forward to have Beetson honoured with a statue instead of a grandstand.<ref>{{cite news|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=14 March 2022|title=Beetson transcended state borders – so name a grandstand after him|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/beetson-transcended-state-borders-so-name-a-grandstand-after-him-20220314-p5a4iv.html|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=15 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=13 March 2022|title=Roosters legend Arthur Beetson to be honoured after grandstand snub|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/roosters-legend-arthur-beetson-to-be-honoured-after-grandstand-snub-20220313-p5a480.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=15 March 2022}}</ref>

In March 2022, it was announced that the decision not to name a stand at the new Sydney Football Stadium had been overturned by New South Wales sports minister [[Stuart Ayres]].<ref name=overturned>{{cite news|last1=Rothfield|first1=Phil|last2=Benns|first2=Matthew|last3=O'Doherty|first3=James|date=15 March 2022|title=Arthur Beetson set to be honoured at Sydney Stadium|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/arthur-beetson-set-to-be-honoured-at-sydney-stadium/news-story/fdcc676b93db0b7e37593e6dc615d0fa|url-access=subscription|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=15 March 2022}}</ref> Beetson's son Mark said the naming of a stand after his father would be a proud moment for his family who described his father as being "up there" with the likes of [[Cathy Freeman]] and [[Lionel Rose]] as one of Australia's indigenous sporting icons.<ref name=overturned/> Mark Beetson also thanked ''[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]'' and its readers for lobbying for the change.<ref name=overturned/>

==See also==
*[[Murri Rugby League Carnival]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Arthur Beetson with Ian Heads, ''Big Artie The Autobiography'' ABC Books 2004. {{ISBN|0-7333-1299-3}}

==External links==
* {{FOGS player|arthur-beetson-(dec.)}}
* [http://www.eraofthebiff.com/p32.html Arthur Beetson at eraofthebiff.com]
* [http://www.arthurbeetson.com.au Arthur Beetson's Website]
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114111429/http://nz.leagueunlimited.com/news.php?newsid=16380 |title=''Queensland Team of the Century named'' – article at nz.leagueunlimited.com }}
* {{Sport Australia Hall of Fame|arthur-beetson}}

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|title  = {{flagicon|Australia}}<br>[[Australian national rugby league team#Captains|Australian national rugby league captain]]
|before = [[Tom Raudonikis]]
|after  = [[John Brass]]
|years  = 1973-77
}}
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|  after  = [[Bob Fulton]]<br />1979–1982
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|  years  = 1977–1978
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|  after  = [[Russell Fairfax]]<br>1989–1990
|  title  = [[List of Sydney Roosters coaches|Coach]]<br>{{leagueicon|sydney roosters|size=18}}<br>[[Sydney Roosters]]
|  years = 1985–1988
}}
{{Succession box
|  before = [[Allan Fitzgibbon]]<br>1988–1991
|  after = [[John Lang (Australian rugby league)|John Lang]]<br>1994–2001
| title  = [[List of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks coaches|Coach]]<br>{{leagueicon|cronulla|size=18}}<br>[[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]]
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{{Succession box|
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  title = Coach<br>{{leagueicon|queensland|size=18}}<br />[[Queensland rugby league team|Queensland]]|
  years = 1989–1990|
}}
{{Succession box
|  before = [[Frank Stanton (rugby league)|Frank Stanton]]<br>1978-1982
|  after  = [[Frank Stanton (rugby league)|Frank Stanton]]<br>1984
|  title  = [[List of Australia national rugby league team coaches|Coach]]<br>{{flagicon|Australia}}<br>[[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]
|  years  = 1983
}}
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