The Halftime Spray #6 (2014)

City v Country is an annual fixture which has been running for several decades. But alas, everytime it comes around, all the media outlets and people in the big smoke whinge and whine and ask "Why should we even bother with this game"

In the early years the argument was even stronger, given that Country would regularly get towelled up by a full strength City side.

However the argument was just as pointless then as it is now.

Why?

Because some of Rugby League's greatest players in this country have come from the bush. Having a City v Country match maintains interest in the game from kids who cannot access their team's games on a regular basis, if at all.

For many years I have demanded that the NRL do more to promote Rugby League in Country Australia, due to the fact that there is so much hidden talent in this expansive region. A failure to capitalise on this is essentially the handing over of this talent to other codes.

When I think of great Rugby League players from the past, I think of Clive Churchill from Merewether, Duncan Thompson from Ipswich, Arthur Beetson from Roma, Graeme Langlands from Wollongong, Peter Sterling from Wagga Wagga, the list well and truly goes on and on.

Furthermore, Country NSW has a similar history in their clashes with City, as Queensland has with NSW, especially when you compare their results. Both regularly got flogged. But both are equally as proud and many would argue, much more passionate, because of the constant floggings. It's the hardship that has built their spirit. It's what makes those players selected for Country cherish that jumper just that bit more than their counterparts.

It is why City vs Country games should be persevered with.

Mad Monday - Gallen the modern Beetson (2012)

Paul Gallen has become somewhat of a cult hero ever since his performances in Origin last year. But after having studied archival footage, read books, news articles and comments about Arthur Beetson, I have come to the conclusion, that Gallen is a modern day Beetson.

Big call I know and one to incite a lot of anger amongst fans. And I would also like to point out that I'm saying this in full respect to both players.

Both men, personality wise have been known as being outspoken, controversial in their earlier days, and getting better with age, going against the trend of most forwards.

Then there are the little things on the field. This year has seen Gallen master the use of the hit and spin, a practice perfected by Beetson so much so that he became even harder than usual to stop.

The ability to turn 180 degrees in a tackle or hit up to allow easy passage for an offload, the positional skills of a centre when attacking the opponents try line, the ball skills of a five-eighth, the unselfishness of the play, the determination, the workload, the ticker, the toughness, the willingness to do the dirty work, the hard yards when no else would.

Most importantly, they inspire those around them not so much with words, but by their actions. They were feared, not just for their strength, but their relentlessness and their skill.

It's never easy to compare two players from vastly different era's, but by studying the small things that are relevant to both of their games; you can see just how similar they have become.

Beetson will always be regarded more highly and rightfully so. He was the man to reignite, transform and take the ball-playing forward role to a new height that changed the way future forwards played the game, although none ever managed to match him.

Until Gallen.

Last series saw the legend of Gallen in origin being born. This year he will show everyone that last year was no fluke and if anything, he is better this year.

And although Artie will be cheering on the Queenslander's as he always has, a part of him would be happy to see Gallen carrying on his form, because it's essentially a reminder of the way Beetson played.

It also shows that what Beetson did as a player wasn't just ahead of its time, it was revolutionary and it has taken until now to finally see a player performing at a similar level to that of Beetson.

That’s how good Gallen is.

That’s how good Beetson was.

Vale: Arthur Beetson (2011)

Today saw the passing of one of Rugby League's ‘Immortals' and arguably the greatest attacking forward the game has produced Arthur Beetson at just 66 years of age.

Arthur Beetson's Rugby League career began in Roma as a winger and centre. He was spotted by Henry Holloway who quickly moved him to Redcliffe where he was graded at just 16 years old. Beetson was quickly moved into the forwards where he starred in Redcliffe's 1965 Grand Final win. Balmain were quick to sign him up for the 1966 season.

In his first year at Balmain, Beetson earned a place in the deciding Third Test against Great Britain, where he turned in a stellar performance in the first half, setting up two tries and helping Australia to win the Ashes.

In 1967, Beetson was tipped to be a certain selection for the Kangaroo tour, but he was sent off in a City vs Country match and was omitted from the touring squad.

Beetson was one of the best players in the successful World Cup campaign of 1968. At club level he was just as devastating, but was also a constant target which often landed him in trouble on the field. He was pivotal in Balmain's charge to the 1969 premiership, however he was sent off in the Major Semi-Final and his suspension subsequently saw him miss the Grand Final victory.

He played in all three Tests against Great Britain in 1970 but was surprisingly overlooked for the World Cup in England. Beetson's stint at Balmain concluded at the end of the 1970 season and his legendary tenure at Easts began in 1971.

Under the tuteledge of Don Furner, Beetson worked tirelessly on improving his fitness, effectively resurrecting his career. After regaining his place in Australia's World Cup squad in 1972, he toured with the 1973 Kangaroos.

He captained Australia in France in 1973 and against Great Britain in the Second Test in 1974. The transformation from 'lazy forward' to brilliant leader was completed with Easts' consecutive premiership wins in 1974‑75 as well as Australia's ‘World Series' (in 1975) and ‘World Cup' (in 1977) titles.

It was during the 1977 World Cup that Beetson was involved in a controversy when he was omitted from the side to play New Zealand. ARL Chairman Kevin Humphreys refused to accept the squad without Beetson and he was re‑instated. However Beetson chose to follow his conscience and stand down from the match.

After a time as Easts captain‑coach (1977‑78) Beetson left the club to play for Parramatta but his two seasons there were affected by injury. In 1980, at age 35, he captained Queensland in the inaugural State of Origin match. Beetson turned back the clock to lead his home state to victory. Beetson returned to Brisbane to captain-coach Redcliffe in 1981, before taking on coaching duties for the Queensland Origin team, leading them to success in 1981‑84.

Beetson's short time as Australian coach (2 Tests) ended with the loss to NZ in Brisbane at Lang Park in 1983. He continued coaching at Easts (1986‑89) and Cronulla (1992-93) with mixed fortune.

In 1987, Beetson was awarded the Dally M Coach of the Year title. He also received an OAM that year for services to the game.

After he was sacked as coach from Cronulla in 1993, Beetson hung up his coaching duties and moved into player recruitment at Easts. He had one last brief stint as coach at the Roosters, when he took over as caretaker coach after the resignation of Mark Murray.

In 2002, Arthur Beetson was named Australian Rugby League's seventh ‘Immortal'. He was named captain of the Indigenous Rugby League Team Of The Century in 2002, inducted into the ARL Hall of Fame in 2003, was named as one of the 100 greatest players in the Australian game and listed at Prop in the Australian, Queensland, Balmain and Easts teams of the century in 2008.

In fact, the list of accolades accredited to Beetson is much longer, but if you were one of the fortunate people to ever have a chat with Artie, you'd know that he loved the game and while the accolades and awards were always nice, it was his mates he played for.

He was a great contributor to the Aboriginal community, as well as to grassroots Rugby League. He was never afraid to speak his mind and take an unpopular stance for the betterment of the game. His work in helping establish State of Origin is a testament to his passion for the game and its future. The fact it succeeded so quickly and so enormously shows he wasn't all brawn either, he was also a very astute man.

Arthur Beetson, you were a man with a heart of gold, who was equally amazing as a footballer as he was a human. You will be sorely lost, but you will, and can never be forgotten.