Wallabies five-eighth Kurtley Beale says a stint in rugby league might be in his future following a cross-code training session with NRL premiers Melbourne.
The Rebels Super Rugby star hit the training paddock for the first time since Australia’s tour of the UK and Europe late last year and he sweated it out in a two-hour session with the Storm.
The Storm are renowned for their tortuous pre-season campaigns but the Rebels were able to keep the pace.
Rebels and Wallaby halfback Nick Phipps was one who never let his Storm opposite Cooper Cronk get the better of him.
Admitting he was a huge league fan, Beale said he wanted to try his hand in the 13-man game.
“It’s always lingering in the back of my mind,” the 24-year-old said.
“I’m a massive fan of rugby league and I played it all my junior career and I’m always switching channels to watch it on the weekend.
“Hopefully later on, in the years to come, I will be able to put my hand up and have a crack at it.”
He said his focus was on a big year ahead for the Rebels and the Wallabies, with the British and Irish Lions in Australia for their three-Test series in June-July.
Beale wore the Wallabies No.10 jersey on the Spring tour and said he wanted to continue in the role, holding off challenges from Queensland’s Quade Cooper and his Rebels’ teammate James O’Connor, among others.
His fitness was in question during Melbourne’s 2012 Super Rugby campaign, hampered early on by hamstring-related problems.
While injury-free, Beale admitted he still had plenty of work to do before their opening-round clash with the Western Force on February 15.
“I’m a little bit off,” he said.
“Obviously, it’s my first day back today and the boys were jogging past me so there’s a little bit of work to do but I’ll try and focus on that over the next few weeks.
“Our boys had a really good off-season and, to be able to see them mix it with the champion league team, brought me a lot of confidence going into a new year.”
The Rebels and Storm will present a united front in Geelong early next month when they play trial games; the NRL titleholders hosting Canberra on Friday February 8 and the Rebels facing Wellington the next day at Simmons Stadium.
PJ
Guest
RL - mate Qld Cup is not all professional ( i work at a NRL club aligned with a QCup team) they get a basic win/loss payment and all work in ulltime employment except those contratced to the NRL affiliate who train all week with the NRL club and do the captains run/thursday evevning with QCup. If you are going to talk at least talk the truth.
Chris McDonald
Guest
I don't agree with all these players talking about switching sports and I don't agree that it should be so easy to do so. I am a Rugby fan, not a League fan and I don't honestly appreciate players such as Beale stating that he wants to play League. The Israel Folau example just proves him to be a sporting prostitute and I would never support such a character. It is however, a timely reminder of why I support the sport of Rugby and my teams over any individual. The players come and go but the team is always there to represent you.
Justin2
Guest
Bogon? What's that?
allrounder
Guest
bulldogs?
Bakkies
Guest
Lyons was hidden or subbed off when Manly were defending. Beale at least attempts to tackle.
Johnno
Guest
Campo is Australia's worst defending fullback.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Malo why in the 90s? What has changed since then?
Malo
Guest
Sonny bill was awesome compared to KB. Not in the same league,exactly excuse the pun. He would be lucky to play first grade in the 90s
Malo
Guest
you have to be joking . KB is australias all time worst defending fullback
Bakkies
Guest
I find that very hard to believe that crowds in the Super League have increased. Their playoff attendance figures were appalling. Those sugar daddies you have mentioned are just keeping those clubs solvent. It doesn't change the fact that some staff members were working on a volunteer basis (including the ex head coach of Bradford) and players were unpaid for months. Bradford were docked points for entering administration. Wasps, London Irish, Saracens, etc moved their pro home games outside of London but their mini Rugby and amateur base is very much in London and they have expanded that by playing home games in places like Wycombe. Saracens are moving back in to London at the end of the month. That gave them a more stable home base unlike the London RL club who are like the Travelling Wilburys. They had the lowest match attendance for the season which was 1,517 against Salford. Newcastle should be back in the Aviva Premiership next season. Sale are struggling on the field but they have some decent players and are playing out of Salford's home ground. Pretty sure their crowd averages are much higher then Salford City. Leeds are struggling in the Championship but they are a player production club these days. The Super League highlights show on the BBC is only televised in the heartlands so that is not broadcasting the game to other areas. The competition sponsors Stobart were in the news this week as they have financial problems.
Matt_S
Guest
bakkies,. crowds have increased, not declined, in Super League. TV ratings are at recoed levels. Yes, some clubs are facing financial uncertainty but so do union clubs and only rich suger daddies keep them afloat. How many union clubs have had to even leave London? Wasps, Saracens, Irish? How are Sale, Leeds and Falcons doing in the North? At least successful immigrants are wanting to help league clubs like Bradford (Pakistan-English owner), and by Monday, a Qatari-English owner for Salford. Just need a union type oldboy network to help out with sponsorship. Please keep to some truth.
Dadiggle
Guest
I thought the no 9 position is pivot of Australia?
Shahsan
Guest
Yah, great tacklers like Timana Tahu, cooper vuna, wendell sailor
Suzy Poison
Guest
Agree, same with Cooper. Both would be good at League. Australia suffers a too many playmakers disease. O'Conner, Cooper, Barnes would walk into internal side. It's almost as if you guys are paralysed by choice. But as a Saffa, I believe we have the next Dan Carter and his name is Johan Goosen. He has only played one game for Boks, and we went okay. 5 tries I believe. But he needs to stay injury free.
Dadiggle
Guest
Since when has offloading became a magical thing or stat in rugby?
SkinnyKid
Guest
Mania, agree. By all reports SBW work ethic and professionalism can not be questioned.
mania
Guest
how is sbw a prima donna. he was the consumate professional when in the saders, chiefs and AB's. sbw worked hard at getting better and it showed. sbw gave the utmost respect to every team he played in and his team mates had nothing but accoades for him i do agree tho that he's not great yet but he was definately getting ther
SkinnyKid
Guest
At international level? I would argue that SBW never really made it at international level. Some great games no question. Beale sustained some amazing all round football at fullback on the international stage for 1.5 seasons. SBW produced half a dozen off loads in 4-5 games when he already had one foot out the door.
RebelRanger
Guest
Pretty sure SBW has had more than one good year. Beale wishes he could say the same. Some of these players need to learn that the best negotiating tactic is to play like your worth a million bucks.
rl
Guest
Credit for Palu? Sure. And in Robbie's defence, he has to rely on the word of the individual player and the advise of his medical staff. But I did comment at the time of the team selection that Mitchell was a massive risk of re-injury because he just didn't appear to look fit enough to be considered. 'Big ups' to me. As I alluded to before, its a damn sight harder to do his job than to be to be me furiously disagreeing with you over a keyboard. I didn't know that background to Cullen - great, great player.