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'Big Artie'
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Ron Coote: "Those who saw him play were lucky; those who played with him, luckier still. Arthur's story is one to be savoured by anyone who has ever followed the game. He has been one of the commanding personalities of our game since he first stepped out in the black and gold of Balmain in 1966." Published
by ABC Books |
'Big Artie' is a serious contender for the most enthralling rugby league biography book yet seen. Take the achievements, incidents and personality of Arthur Beetson, have it put down on paper by Ian Heads, and the recipe was almost guaranteed to produce a compelling tale.
Both Beetson and Heads arrived on the Sydney rugby league scene at about the same time in the mid-1960s. They were both present at many of rugby league's most memorable events through the late 1960s, the 70s and the early 1980s. This provides a great synergy which comes through in the book.
At
a massive 360 pages, 'Big Artie' covers Beetson's life from his childhood
in Roma, his revered rugby league playing career, his thoughts on the
modern game and many other incidents along the way.
Beetson provides his insight into some of the game's most interesting players. His personal thoughts and memories of Kevin Yow Yeh, left me in awe of a player and man long since forgotten.
Arthur was a great forward, he was the biggest and best rugby league player of the 1970’s. He won Tests and Grand Finals, but he was often sent off in crucial games, was once dropped while Australian captain and was even linked to the mysterious death of a team mate in a pub brawl.
| "I
have never seen anyone play our game better than Arthur Beetson" Frank Hyde |
In 1980, he answered the call to return to Queensland to lead the Maroons in the first State of Origin match. Of this now legendary match, Beetson sets it straight about what happened when he clashed with Parramatta team mate Mick Cronin.
In the past 37 seasons that Beetson has been involved in rugby league, he has been a part of or witnessed many of the game's biggest stories. From the blood-and-thunder days of the 1960s, the glamorous Easts team of the 70s, the first decade of Origin and the Roosters' rise back to the top. As a national selector and a club recruitment officer he is still at the forefront of the game.
| "Arthur
is a roving ambassador of the game; the numbers of people he would
meet each year in the name of rugby league would be astonishing.
The game is lucky to have him" Ricky Stuart |
'Big Artie' is not just about football - it is about characters, mates and the ups and downs of life. It is also a personal account of the past four decades of rugby league history, and a map for the road ahead.
Big
Artie
Arthur Beetson with Ian Heads
Published
by ABC Books
ISBN 0 7333 1299 3
360 pages (paperback)
Available from: ABC
books
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