Arthur Beetson has died

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Anyone who hasn't seen him play should do whatever they can to see him. He was amazing, could offload in traffic like no other player and bent the line at will.

 

[Sueb]

RIP Artie. A true legend.

 

[Eelectrica]

RIP big Artie. Queensland legend whose idea of a balanced diet was a pie in each hand
RIP big fella

 

[fightingirish69]

r.ip. arthur.... i'm completely in f**king shock

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

RIP Artie,great servant to Easts and the game of rugby league.

 

[Perth Red]

Only played two seasons at Hull KR but became a legend in that short space of time. RIP, great loss to the game and the country.

 

[LESStar58]

RIP!

There should be a state funeral for the first Aboriginal captain of an Australian national side, rugby league immortal and all-round Aussie character.

This.

Was having such a good day until I got online to read the papers at lunchtime and read Big Artie had passed. Devastating. Vale Big Artie.

 

[LESStar58]

Idiot



If Beetson didnt play in that Origin game in 1980, Origin probably wouldnt have been a success.

Exactly. Origin wasn't meant to work when it was first played in 1980. When Artie belted Mick Cronin it set the tone for what is now the greatest sporting rivalry in this country and everyone knew that the concept was fair dinkum.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Channel 10 news report. They could atleast spell Arthur right ffs

http://youtu.be/x_VHoJjQv5s

"Holds no grudges" a very common theme with Big Artie which is a testament to the man considering he was shafted a few times from a few clubs not least the Roosters.

 

[LESStar58]

There's a feature on the 730 Report on the ABC....

 

[Big Pete]

It's brilliant to see so many of us on here pay tribute to one of the all-time greats. It's not everyday we all seem to be on the same page.

Champion player who made a huge impact on the game he truly loved. RIP Artie.

 

[0neye]

R.I.P BIG FELLA

 

[RHCP]

RIP Artie.

 

[sydraider]

RIP Artie

 

[carcharias]

It's brilliant to see so many of us on here pay tribute to one of the all-time greats. It's not everyday we all seem to be on the same page.

Champion player who made a huge impact on the game he truly loved. RIP Artie.

Yeah good call.

First game of live footy I saw was him playing for Easts
My brother took me to see at oki .

It's a wonder I didn't end up a roosters fan.

 

[LazyDreamer]

Absolutely gobsmacked. Artie was old-school, pull-no-punches & larger than life. A fantastic role model for Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike.

In fact, one of Artie's roles in the last few years of his life was as Centrelink's Indigenous Ambassador. Not the most glamorous role in the world - especially given the stereotypical target the sum of Aboriginal + Welfare invokes in a great percentage of the population - but a role he carried with the laid-back dignity you'd expect from the man.

And with Artie, there was both a Queenslander and a Rooster who was likeable. He was definitely one of a kind.

 

[Highway1]

QUEENSLANDER!
RIP Arthur Beetson
I'm sure the meat pies are nicer up there!

 

[Lewis]

RIP big fella

That's how I'll remember him. Doing his last call in the BRL. Maybe not always his best football, but it didn't matter. It was big Artie.

RIP mate.

 

[Frank_Grimes]

Vale.

The game is less without him.

 

[Mr Angry]

Call it morbid.

Decided to watch 9 news and then 10 @ 6:30 to see.

9 Lead story, with a following tribute from Wally.

Then to my suprise, lead story on the 10 show, with choppy close. The girl who hates sport was very respectful.

As it should be.

Legend is thrown around, there is no bigger legend.