Kurtley Beale has the chance to repay the faith of Robbie Deans

FOR all the trouble Kurtley Beale has caused of late, it's hard to find anyone who considers the star a liability to the Wallabies cause.

Robbie Deans and Kurtley Beale

FOR all the trouble Kurtley Beale has caused of late, it's hard to find anyone who considers the star a liability to the Wallabies cause, which tonight is all about beating the Lions.

Gareth Delve, the Melbourne Rebels skipper who an intoxicated Beale punched in the face in South Africa earlier this year, isn't a real fan.

But Rebels coach Damien Hill, who was forced to endure the frequent absences of his star because of indiscretions and injury this year, conceded that what Beale bought to a team, any team, was enough to endear him to any group.

In no particular order, and just this year, Beale has beaten an assault charge against a Brisbane bouncer; taken on Delve and another Rebel, Cooper Vuna, in a fight in South Africa; broken his self-imposed alcohol ban when he returned; denied he had problems with the grog and then checked into a "health facility" to deal with his issues.

Being photographed at 3.50am on Wednesday - not drunk, not causing trouble - was minor compared to his past misdeeds. But because it was Beale, it was major.

He has turned out only once since Round 3 for the Rebels, who look to have blown about $500,000 on him for 14 performances in two years.

But Hill revealed that despite actions having consequences, Beale's commitment to the cause could never be questioned.

And just when there was a chance his teammates might have had enough, he'd deliver to get them back on side.

That predominantly came on-field, but off it this year too. After the South African fracas Beale, following a short time away from the club, confronted the players and in "the most honest way possible" laid out what he was going through.

"Anybody who listened to that could not have helped but be moved. It was a genuine, heartfelt apology," Hill told the Herald Sun.

"The players were as disappointed as Kurtley was. They don't in any way dismiss what happened, but they acknowledged the root cause. He has taken the initiative to do what he has done in seeking help and I think that is fantastic and a sign of maturity.

"But on the field he gives everything for the team and that is the most attractive factor with Kurtley. The players make comment about it, it's all about the team and that's a quality in a player you want, you want those players next to you.

"I firmly believe he is one of the top three most talented footballers in Australia, but he is still a long way off his potential because he hasn't had that off-field consistency, things have detracted from where he could be.

"I think he could be one of the best three players in the world. He will genuinely change a game."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has almost hitched his career to the Beale wagon because of that talent. Deans has not only backed Beale with words, but deeds, inviting the star playmaker to early morning paddle-board sessions in Sydney during his exile from the Rebels.

And twice this week, when asked about Beale, Deans kept using the phrase "stronger than ever".

"I think what he has been through in recent times has made him a much stronger character," Deans said. "As tends to happen, the more experiences you get in life, as long as you retain the meaning from them and the learning from them, you are able to deal with those circumstances."

Hill had one clue as to why the Wallabies coach was so supportive of Beale.

"Everyone is after success," Hill said. "Having a player with that talent, you just can't ignore them."

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