NSW Waratahs coach Kurtley Beale says Melbourne Rebels dishonest in their announcement they are releasing Kurtley Beale

UPDATED: MICHAEL Cheika has blasted the Melbourne Rebels as dishonest over their announced dumping of Kurtley Beale.

UPDATED: MICHAEL Cheika has blasted the Melbourne Rebels as dishonest over their announced dumping of Kurtley Beale yesterday, saying they were attempting to tarnish the playerÂ’s reputation after missing out on his signature.

The Rebels yesterday released a statement saying they would not offer Beale a new contract, but in a stunning attack last night Cheika said that contradicted Melbourne captain Scott Higginbotham’s statement last week that they wanted to keep Beale.

“I noticed that come out from Melbourne, that’s a little bit disappointing that they would put that out because their captain was out a couple of days before saying ‘We want him to stay here and we could play with him no drama’,” said Cheika, who is confident of luring Beale to the Waratahs for 2014.

“So maybe the fact they didn’t get him, they put that out to go against the bloke, make him look like he’s no good, and I think that is really bad karma.

“You shouldn’t be doing that to make yourself look good. You go for the player, if he comes to you great, if he doesn’t move on.

“You don’t have try to get him in the public eye, I think that was unnecessary from Melbourne.

“They’re not telling the truth.”

The Rebels were adamant they made no offer to keep Beale, and indicated he could not be part of a winning culture.
 
“The Melbourne Rebels have announced some major changes in recent weeks, signifying a strong intention to elevate the performance of the organisation and build a sustainable winning culture both on and off the field," Rebels chief executive Rob Clarke said in the statement.

Waratahs chief executive Jason Allen believes his club will get the best out of Beale.

“He is an outstanding athlete and an outstanding person,'' Allen said.

“I'm really confident our squad and coach will get the most out of Kurtley.

“He is a cracking young bloke, and has got a great support network here.''

BEALE DUMPED BY REBELS

Melbourne could have torn up Beale's contract after he hit captain Gareth Delve and teammate Cooper Vuna during a drunken night earlier this season, but helped him seek help for his issues relating to alcohol abuse.

It has long been whispered that Beale had already made the decision to leave Melbourne because he has struggled in the past two years without his family and friends in Sydney.

An announcement by the Waratahs on Beale's signing is expected next week, despite him also exploring the option of switching to the NRL.

Beale has been undergoing alcohol rehabilitation counselling in Sydney in recent weeks, and Clarke said it would be best for the Wallabies fullback to be based here for his own well-being.

“While Kurtley has been a valuable and popular player for the Rebels over the last two years, it is no secret that he has been facing some significant personal challenges,'' Clarke said.

“The Rebels have supported him through this process and at all times have made decisions in the best interests of Kurtley's welfare.

“Kurtley will continue his off-field program in Sydney and the Rebels believe that he should remain there supported by his family network."

The departure of Beale and O'Connor from Melbourne marks the end of a two-year high-profile stint that was hoped to take the club to greater success and lure a string of other big name players.

They are incumbent starting Wallabies players but their off-field escapades have tarnished their on-field brilliance in recent times.

Both were photographed at 4am at a fast food store during the week of the second Test, missed a team bus to training before the third Test, and were seen entering a nightclub at 5.30am after Australia's 41-16 thrashing to the Lions last weekend, after which O'Connor missed a team meeting that was to be ex-coach Robbie Deans's last in charge.

Kurtley Beale