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With the sketchy details available, I am concerned Kurtley Beale’s latest indiscretion is a mountain being made out of a molehill because of previous, often unproven, indiscretions.
When starting my research I came across a Courier Mail article, ‘Kurtley’s rap sheet‘, focusing on his off-field indiscretions.
2007: drink driving loss of licence
2010: not guilty of assaulting a female cousin
2010: urinating outside a nightclub
2010: alleged altercation with Quade Cooper and James O’Connor in Paris
2012: accusation of assaulting a bouncer in Brisbane
2013: suspended for an incident on tour with the Melbourne Rebels
2013: suspended for breaching an alcohol ban
2013: going to Hungry Jacks at the wrong time
2014: the current incident
There is a bit there, but his ‘behavioural issues’ do start to look like a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Since the beginning of his professional career, Beale has had expectation upon expectation mounted upon him. There is no doubt that there is some arrogance within his personality, but clearly that is a product of the expectations and the environment.
His season at the Waratahs has demonstrated what he is capable of when focussed. Being a child prodigy myself (I made that bit up but draw from Doogie Howser episodes) I can understand the additional expectations placed upon a gifted kid.
Ultimately, I say give him a break until we know what occurred and why.
Unfortunately the Courier Mail did not have a similar rap sheet for Di Patston, however there is starting to be a bit of information being thrown around, most notably by the Sydney Morning Herald.
What we know is that she left the tour. This is not an admission of guilt or even an admission that there is anything wrong with her role or input to the touring entourage (although anyone at the Churchie lunch earlier this year may recall Alan Jones’ comments around modern entourages, “What does a media liaison do anyway?”).
Clearly she has been a part of McKenzie’s team for some time and, again, perhaps more should be understood about her role and involvement in the ‘incident’ before further comment is made.
Finally is Ewen McKenzie’s role. Many comments were written about how this incident relates to his people management skills. Are his team selections being affected by this incident? Should he – if he did – have driven Di to the airport? How could the Wallabies lose by so much after leading at the 70-minute mark against the Springboks?
Apparently the incident began with Di sticking up for Ewen when Beale said something untoward about a t-shirt change request. I will suggest that as much as anyone can question his selections, McKenzie would not let a personal grudge influence his selection decisions.
That he took Patston to the airport (if indeed he did) adds nothing to the facts of the incident, it speaks for a considerate person.
There are others involved obviously, Sam Carter apparently was also wearing the wrong kit and Georgina Robinson of the SMH also alludes to many nameless Wallabies’ opinions from her impeccable sources.
From everything I have read, all I see is opinion and hearsay. I know that The Roar community do not jump to unfounded conclusions, nor do they hold preconceived unproven ideas as fact and as such, I look forward to a reasoned discussion below about who are the true villains in this story.
Let’s not miss the forest for the trees.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.