Kurtley Beale is undoubtedly the most talented, controversial and well-known figure in Australian rugby union today.
However, his recent off field behaviour has placed him under the media spotlight and has since tarnished his reputation.
Beale, in April, was suspended from the Super Rugby club the Melbourne Rebels, after assaulting captain Gareth Delve and teammate Cooper Vuna on a boozy night out in Durban.
After serving his suspension with the Melbourne side he broke his commitment he made with the franchise, by drinking on two occasions and since then has undergone a brief stint in rehab for alcohol related issues.
Beale has allegedly turned the corner, ‘feting up to his ongoing struggle with alcohol abuse and admitting he has a problem could just be the best ‘play’ of his career thus far.
The St. Joseph’s College schoolboy prodigy was always destined to play professionally, signing with the Waratahs at only sixteen, and has been a standout in Australian Rugby ever since.
Wallabies legend Glen Ella puts it simply; “he’s been blessed with the talent and part of that comes [with] responsibility to be a role model – not just for Aboriginal kids but young kids all over Australia.”
However, the pressures of being an Australian sporting icon seem to have boiled over in recent months, and has resulted in a much-publicised fall from grace. Beale, in the position he is in within society, has become a role model for the young and aspiring of our country.
More importantly however, he is seen as an iconic figure in the eyes of the Indigenous community.
Unlike the NRL and AFL, Kurtley stands on a lonely pedestal in terms of Indigenous players, and as of late, his ego is writing cheques his actions cannot cash, and his reputation cannot afford.
Modern day knuckleheads would say alcohol, violence and flirting with the law is part of the NRL, but rugby union, contrastingly, has a relativity clean reputation to uphold.
It is clear that Beale has had a tough time of late, and needs more support than meets the eye.
Originally hailing from the Western Suburbs of Sydney and playing rugby league in his childhood, Kurtley has struggled to fit into the upper class culture of rugby union.
Whether he is a protected species or not, his talent is worth the effort and over the past few months the ARU, Robbie Deans and the Melbourne Rebels have wrapped him in cotton wool.
Beale was recently labeled a “national treasure” by head of the ARU Bill Pulver, which is perhaps an unworthy title.
Beale is certainly a hero to some, and many admire the path he has paved for himself and for young aspiring Indigenous kids, who want nothing more than to follow in his footsteps.
But he should not be ‘treasured’ just yet. With the Wallabies clash against the All Blacks on the 17th of August fast approaching, Australians are desperate to forget the sorrows of the Lions Tour and start again with Ewen Mckenzie.
After displaying patches of brilliance against the rampant Lions, Beale is now under pressure to retain his position as fullback and prove that he is not a toxic addition to the campaign.
Beale has the potential to be the x-factor in the Wallabies line-up and wow the nation with his fancy footwork and tenacity as a rugby player.
It goes without saying that the average Australian wants to forget the Pommies and turn their attention to having a crack at the kiwis and Beale might just be the secret ingredient.
The code often finds it hard to control the big names and with rumours of Israel Folau returning to league in the next few years, and the loss of bobble head figures like Sonny Bill Williams, the games public profile is in limbo.
For Kurtley, his future is uncertain. There has been talk of him signing with the Waratahs next season, and even interest from NRL side St. George Illawarra after his recent fallout, but currently his welfare stands above his pay cheque.
Whatever the outcome may be, the code should consider itself lucky to have Beale because when he’s at his best, he has the pulling power to be the face of rugby union.
Beale has a choice.
He can either slip back into the shadows of nightclubs and become the player that had ‘all the talent in the world’ who never fulfilled his obvious potential, or he can be the comeback kid our nation craves, and prove to Australia that he’s one of the best we’ve got.
Kurtley, it’s up to you mate.
Archie King
Guest
excellent article, totally agree.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Well put DJW and pretty much how I see Kurtley. Which is why I struggle to see what people see in him as a 15. My guess is that many fans see him as a 'must have' player in the team, an X factor if you like, and 15 is better for him than any other pozzy. :( I would disagree slightly with you on one point though. "He is good running the ball back." I'd reword it with 'can be good running the ball back'. IMHO KB just over does the chip kick option instead of taking the contact, setting up another player or a myriad of better options. At least he's proven that overuse of the chip kick is no real option at International level. ;)
jutsie
Guest
urghh i hear it all the time, i work with alot of gen y kids and whenever u display critical thought and don't follow their herd mentality ur labelled a hater. (disclaimer: im technically gen-y myself but im a self-loathing gen-y lol)
Bayxxx
Guest
Funnily enough the first time I saw the expression "haters" it was on a tweet from QC
ten four
Guest
At that time Beale was only 18 or 19, and did exceptonally well to guide the waratahs to a super 14 grand final playing 10. A lot was being asked of him at a very young age
Justin3
Guest
Looks like you brought a knife to a gunfight ;) http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/the-statictical-case-for-quade-cooper/
Mevan VK
Roar Rookie
Beale needs to get his off-field problems in order before even thinking about coming back to international rugby, I think the best remedy for him would be time...
Kebab
Guest
Do you want a list
matuatekau
Guest
Thanks handles. If i was supporting quade as wallaby 5/8, i would not be using “The Wallabies with Quade at 10 have won more games against the AB’s than with some one else at 10.” as my reasoning. 2 wins in 5 years is not a great record, although the 2011 game was impressive. I hated that game. Think it may be time to try someone else, Toomua or Foley. I still think Cooper can contribute to the wallabies, whether that's off the bench or starting... well thats up to Ewen.
Kebab
Guest
Agree they have trashed the gold jersey and they amigos are crap and overrated.
handles
Guest
Since 2009 Australia have beaten the All Blacks twice, 27 Aug 2011 and 30 October 2010. Cooper was at 10 both times. In the same time we have lost 4 times with him at 10 and six times without. One draw, I think Beale played 10.
Kebab
Guest
Bit of flair but a fullback should be able to tackle.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Australia is the worst top tier nation under high balls. I have no facts to back that up, but I have zero confidence we will catch it when the opposition put up a bomb.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Everyone keeps asking how I get my Guru status. Am I that controversial? At least you didn't try to dispute Beale's ordinary defence. I honestly don't think Beale is not the most damaging 5/8 in the country. As Markus said, Beale has flashes of individual brilliance early on at NSW at 10, but flatlined pretty quickly. He doesn't have a good enough pass, and he doesn't control a game better than any Australian in the competition. And I don't think Robbie asked Hill to play JOC at 10 instead of Beale. Both have been rotated with equally unispiring results, at both Super and International level.
James P
Guest
Also useful to have a fullback who can actually kick the ball a decent distance. He averaged around 25 meters per kick in the last lions test including one great 5 meter kick. The Rebels lost a lot when they lost Gerrard and replaced him with Beale.
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
A fair point, it was meant to read - most talented, controversial and well-known indigenous figure in Australian rugby union..
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
talented, controversial and well-known (Indigenous) figure!
matuatekau
Guest
"The Wallabies with Quade at 10 have won more games against the AB’s than with some one else at 10." I see this posted quite a bit, 'by non-haters' (is that what quade supporters are called?) Can anyone tell me how many times wallabies have beaten all black with quade at 5/8, I'm thinking not many, if any, and how many they have lost with quade at 5/8.
Ajax
Guest
"well he can catch for a start.." nearly fell of my chair laughed so hard. Yep... seems over the last few years it has been overlooked that a fullback who is suspect under the high ball really isnt much use. KB has knocked on more times under the high ball more times than Ive had roast chicken this year... and I love a good roast ;-) Id be suprised if either KB or JOC are in Links squad at all for the RC.. I suspect they will be given 6 months of club footy to think about their futures.
Markus
Guest
The Rebels initially ran Beale at FB because several years at the Waratahs showed that Beale was actually quite a limited flyhalf, who often reverted to the low percentage chip and chase whenever he couldn't beat the defense with a short pop-pass or by stepping through himself.