As Kurtley Beale prepares to return to the footy field for the first time in more than a year, Waratahs winger Triston Reilly says NSW players would welcome the Wallabies great back to the Super Rugby franchise with open arms.
Beale, 35, was stood down for more than a year by Rugby Australia and the Waratahs as he faced charges of sexual assault. It meant Beale was ineligible to push for selection in a fourth World Cup.
But after the well-known Wallaby was cleared by a jury last month of any wrongdoing, Beale has been open about his desire to make a comeback.
“I’ve always been a big admirer of league, growing up in Mt Druitt … but also there’s been an admiration throughout my career,” Beale told 9News after being found not guilty of sexual assault
“Always watching league over the weekends and taking little bits from different players to add to my game. There is interest there, for both codes.”
Beale has attracted some interest in rugby league, but the 95-capped Wallaby will instead make his comeback via club rugby as he pulls on the Galloping Greens jersey in Saturday’s Australian Club Championship fixture against Brothers in Brisbane.
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Kurtley Beale is set to make his return to rugby for Randwick in their Australian Club Championship fixture against Brothers. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The fixture could also see Wallabies and Reds star James O’Connor make his comeback from a hamstring injury in the match.
While most Super Rugby rosters are full for 2024, it’s understood Rugby Australia won’t stand in the way of any side that seeks to sign him later in the year if injuries strike.
As one official said, “It’s a clean slate”.
Another said Beale was “going about his return the right way”, as he returns via club rugby.
After surprising club officials by turning up to training almost a week ago, Beale impressed many teammates with his conditioning.
It’s why former Wallaby and Super Rugby-winning teammate Stephen Hoiles, who led Randwick to their drought-breaking Shute Shield title in his first year in charge last year, has had no hesitation in selecting the utility back.
Indeed, many believe it’s the best Beale has looked in years.
While Beale could likely pick up a contract overseas, it’s understood he wants to stay closer to home, particularly with a second baby on the way.
It’s also understood that Beale’s ultimate hope is to become the first Indigenous player to reach the 100 Test milestone for the Wallabies and compete in next year’s British and Irish Lions campaign.
If he was to compete in a second Lions campaign, he would be 36. Irish legend Johnny Sexton retired following last year’s World Cup aged 38.
Australia’s Kurtley Beale (right) with celebrates with James O’Connor after kicking and scoring a penalty late against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on November 20, 2021. (Photo: David Davies, via Getty Images)
On Tuesday, recently returned Indigenous Waratahs winger Reilly said he would welcome Beale pushing for selection once more.
“He went through whatever he needed to go through and he’s come out the other side,” Reilly, who also plays for Randwick, said.
“I heard that he was down at Randwick on the weekend… he trained there on Thursday. But, yeah, I’d love to see him back in the game.
“He’s a very good player and I’ve always looked up to someone like him.”
He added: “I’ve always looked up to Kurtley, like he was one of the only Indigenous players that I sort of knew coming through rugby when I was growing up.
“I’m pretty close with him and I think with (Dylan) Pietsch and myself here, hopefully we can get more Indigenous players in Super Rugby.
“There’s not many of us and yeah, we’re just paving the way for others to come through and hopefully with success. And whoever’s the next Indigenous Wallaby, hopefully we can just build that for the future.”
The Waratahs will take on the Blues at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, with Darren Coleman’s side needing to atone for last week’s heartbreaking two-point loss to the Highlanders.
gatesy
Roar Guru
SR is not the be all and end all of Rugby, despite what many armchair Roar experts think. To us Clubbies that was an entirely appropriate way to program the day. Just so you know we started at 9.00 am with a 3rd grade trial against Wests, then the women played their trial, then a second curtain raiser Roma -v- Maroochydore, the curtain raiser, Brisbane Wests -v- Tuggeranong Vikings (Canberra) and then the main game followed by a car park party well into the night – which I confess I didn’t stay for, as I wanted to and did get home for The Brumbies and the other games on Stan. Pretty bloody good day, actually and by the way the game is also available to watch on Stan. So anyone who still has an issue about programming, just does not understand the nature of club rugby.
Don
Roar Rookie
Congratulations Gatesy! Looked like a big day at Albion. Your team played nice physical footy. The Brothers fullback looks a good prospect.
gatesy
Roar Guru
..it was, and I did..and a great result. Even though the score was close, Brothers were always in front.
scrum
Roar Rookie
If you played them at Crosby Park in the old days you would know why. A few stitches in the head and some shiners were common post match.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Have outrage. Will travel.
ShortBlind
Roar Rookie
Agree Peter, and Cristy calling him a ‘Wallaby great’ is a massive stretch, although as the article goes on he lowers the adjectives to ‘well known’. :stoked: Greatness is validated by leadership, winning and good character/values and not by the number of caps acquired. He lost a lot more games than he won and if not for Chieks picking his fav Tah son….his cap count would have been way less. From my recollection one very good year as a 15 at test level and the rest was rocks.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
And the politicians are still trying ( for over approx 200 years ) to ' Close the Gap' ???? No wonder that's still happening!!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
SBW???? The person that threw away his NZ Heavyweight title due to David Tua coming out of retirement to challenge? Also with Joseph Parker coming on the scene? Yeh right!!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
As was Cooper & O'Connor, who were all part of the 'Three Amigo's ' back then. But with age comes maturity as we've seen with Cooper ( even though his immediate whanau is still not happy) & O'Connor .
Wig1
Roar Rookie
Was certainly up to no good for that situation to happen. I can hear his wife now....he's out on the puss again chasing skirt while I'm home alone breastfeeding
Wig1
Roar Rookie
Bobby, he got off but surely you don't believe he wasn't at fault in any way as in what he did, said, where he was,where he wasn't,trawling bars for chick's,wife and new born at home. Yes he got off and that's what the court ruled. But he's a serial trouble maker it follows him around, Good luck to him if he plays super rugby but to become a wallaby again for the sake of 100 caps would be on the nose. Wallaby's need to uphold the standards, Only my thoughts
Don
Roar Rookie
Wish I could be there for it Gatesy and good luck to your club mate. :thumbup: Sounds like it could be a very long day, stay well hydrated :happy:
Wig1
Roar Rookie
I heard it's when you publicly get your brown wings
Wig1
Roar Rookie
And of course there's standards to uphold. Sorry and counselling for repeat offenders is a sham
Wig1
Roar Rookie
For me youths and boys fall into the teenager to say not past 20 year old maximum,
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Which is the point; people say they are outraged as his deed, but they have extended it to being outraged for his wife and family. If you are going to have genuine compassion for his wife and family, then in light of that I don’t see how the comments on here line up with that compassion. I personally think some people need to be outraged at something.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
People who stick their nose into others business in telling others how to behave and not letting them solve their own problems and make their own decisions. Canberra main epicentre in this country of those type of people. I hope I have educated you. Thank you.
Wig1
Roar Rookie
:thumbup:
jameswm
Roar Guru
Great, thanks for the advice Gary.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Faux compassion for his partner?