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.
bennalong
Guest
What's the point? Do you want him drugged? Given ECT? Lobotomised? Seems fatuous in the light of this fascist Integrity star chamber that he has to attend because the coach couldn't resolve the issue when he was right there. Oh wait. Did you mean McKenzie?
bennalong
Guest
Ay Kev, Love the chance to side with you, mate. Don't understand the national coach taking an unnecessary member of the management team to the airport instead of coaching his team as programmed. Can't imagine my under 14's coach doing anything similar and he was just one kids dad. Is it because she's a woman?
Monday's Expert
Guest
Nice summation and dill's like M Ella and A Jones fed that disorder beautifully in print.
Monday's Expert
Guest
"thank you for that, irony is greatly underappreciated."
ethan
Guest
In a team clearly lacking leadership, I'd love to see Horwill back in the starting team. His form is easily as good as the other locks at the moment.
ethan
Guest
I read an article (I think courier mail) a while back interviewing AAC. In it he said he was a huge fan of Beale, on and off the field. Very interesting, all the different angles to this case.
ethan
Guest
I had a different take on their reaction to the anthem. I remember a game where QLD hosted Highlanders in super rugby. Last game of the season. Reds playing for a shot at the finals. Highlanders bottom of the ladder. It was a round to promote indigenous australians, and before the game, while the teams were out on the field standing arm in arm, an indigenous lady gave a speech to commemorate the occasion. She made a huge blunder however, in acknowledging the reds, then forgetting the name of the opposition. The highlanders faces went to looking quite relaxed about things to all of a sudden having indignation at what must have felt like a huge insult on behalf of the hosts. Where before they didn't have much motivation for the game, now they did, and they came out and played some of their best footy of the season and looked more energetic than the Reds. They couldn't keep it up all game and Reds won, but it shows how with pride in the jersey, a little wrong against you can provide a huge spark. The Wallabies may have got up 14-0 against the Pumas, but it was the Pumas who were making all the play in the first half. The Argentinian not knowing the words was an absolute insult and I was disheartened to see our players laughing about it. It is a very Australian reaction to have a sense of humour about things and be easy going, but easy going is no place for rugby, and if they'd had a sense of pride about things it could have been an incident that sparked them in the first half, the same way the highlanders were sparked against the reds. An example of our guys not having enough mongrel in them, which we miss badly.
ethan
Guest
You mean THIS Roar community? lol. He has obviously read different comments to I.
Tissot Time
Guest
Narcissistic Personality Disorder - DSM-IV Criteria (Five or more of the following) Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements). Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love. Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions). Requires excessive admiration. Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations. Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Maybe you've never travelled with a rep team, but there are specific dress codes that must be adhered to. Just like uniforms.
kunming lion
Guest
They are contracted employees and highly paid ones at that. If you have an issue with your managment or their conduct that can't be sorted out on the spot then seek legal advice.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Garth
Guest
True, but that list is far worse than anything JOC ever did, yet HE got run out of Oz on a rail.
In Brief
Guest
If Macca told me to change my t-shirt mid flight I would have told him where to get off in no uncertain terms. These guys are adults, why try to control every moment of their lives? Seems like a strange Australian obsession with trying to 'corporatise' everything in life from bus stops to sporting teams. In Sydney when 3 people are waiting for a bus they stand in line like good school boys.
Tom
Guest
Poor Toddy just saw the bar line at Northies was a bit long, and thought he'd pour his own VB straight from the source. I didn't, and still don't, see the issue.
Canetragic
Guest
We'll probably all need to hold judgement until the investigation is over, but a couple of thoughts: Where there's smoke, there's fire - as RedKev posted above wtf was Ewen doing driving Patston to the airport instead of doing his job - quite bizarre behaviour unless there was some very troubled water to pour oil onto; There's got to be mor egoig on under the surface here. Seriously - a request to change a uniform shirt of an international payer on tour? Why would that blow up as it appears to have done? And lastly leadership - I only saw a snippet post match, but the vision of the Wallaby huddle seemed to be very informative - Horwill was the one speaking passionatley and vehemently. Isnt that the coach, captain or vice-captain role? I thought I saw two VC initials on the team sheet prior to the match, and I didnt think Horwill was one of them. Good on him for speking up at the time, and maybe there was a lot more that wasnt shown, but.....
Realist
Guest
My understanding is there were 3 staff members involved with Beale. McKensie, another male staff member who asked Beale to change and Di Patston. Beale was petulant and made a remark after changing his top and then got into an argument with Ms Patston. It's also been suggested that Link wanted to send Beale home but player power saved him. This is a massive concern and it's no surprise that AAC (probably still bitter about Dublin) has been linked to that (Let's not forget his role with Andy Friend). Hooper was also involved. The Wallabies need genuine leadership. There are no senior figures in the squad that are standing up. Hooper isn't up to it at this stage and didn't back Link over the Beale incident. Moore is badly needed to knock these blokes into line (and Pocock). At the least, he'll back his coach. It also shows Mowen's value.
Gary
Guest
From my reading of events , the team's reaction to the bizzare Anthem effort was spontaneous and didn't look like a mob lacking harmony, they had a good old laugh and I for one thought it was great. A couple of points - the Higginbotham try was a goodun, however the reaction, big broad smiles etc was bad, it was game -on and the try was just a stepping stone, you would have sworn it was the match winner, contrast that to the Argies reaction to their 1st half try - muted and business like. On the subject of Higginbotham - he seems to me to be a pack leader , given the chance, which we lack badly , they need people who jump out of the trenches first firey eyed ! I think he needs to be given the chance to establish himself as such rather than constantly worrying about his position, he needs to feel part of the team that he could naturally lead if you follow and I wonder if the coach understands this or what a pack leader is all about ( I can't remember Link ever being a pack leader in his playing days, perhaps he misses the point ) You develop Higgers, bring Moore and Pocock back in and a decent THP with balls and your forward pack is looking ok. Beale should not only be kept in Rugby but he should be promoted as a role model for Indigenous kids as Rugby is losing out badly to the other codes here, and finally the 'irony' comment is not lost on all of us, the Roar is an Opinion site after all and it sure attracts some strange ones !
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Asking Kurtley and Tood to think is probably an exercise in futility. That aside I am in agreement with Daz and disagreement with El Gamba: QUOTE: "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." Wrong. It speaks volumes about McKenzie's priorities and how he approaches his job. I don't care if he's her godfather and her entire family just got murdered - offer condolences, mean them, get a gopher or local liaison to drive her to the airport. He's a highly paid coach of an international team that just got spanked the week before (and consequently turned in the most inept showing since the have since the 2011 RWC the week after) and he skips a training session? Does he really think that the lack of concern he showed towards the Wallabies' preparation for this match had no effect on their performance? I don't care if the ARU says it's not strictly against the terms of his employment - if his own immediate family isn't dead or dying he should be at the damn training sessions. I'm honestly amazed it doesn't constitute something (dereliction, negligence, breach) that can allow him to be fired for cause (i.e. no payout of contract).
Qldfan
Roar Rookie
It seems like QC and JOC have apparently grown up, now it's KB's turn.