Arthur Beetson stand at Sydney stadium rejected because he’s a Queenslander

The reason why a stand named after NRL legend Arthur Beetson was ruled out - despite overwhelming support - has been revealed.

The decision against naming a new stand at the Sydney Football Stadium after NRL legend Arthur Beetson was made because he is from Queensland.

Beetson’s family, former players and an overwhelming poll of fans want the stand named after the Roosters legend and NRL Immortal.

Maurice Newman, chair of the Heritage Trust which chose the stand names said he “rejects any suggestion that Arthur Beetson was snubbed.

“Obviously there were a lot of names that we considered and Artie Beetson didn’t make the cut. He is essentially a Queenslander,” he said.

Arthur Beetson during a Sydney Roosters NRL training session in 2009. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Mr Newman also questioned why Beetson should be recognised in a stadium in NSW rather than in his home state of Queensland. “Why isn’t there an Artie Beetson stand in what used to be called Lang Park?”

The Trust named stands after fellow Rooster Ron Coote, soccer legend Johnny Warren, rugby union icon Sir Nicholas Shehadie and Garrison, in honour of the ground’s long history with the next door Victoria Barracks.

The Trust’s decision on the stand names has been passed on to Venues NSW which will then make a recommendation to the NSW Sport Minister, Stuart Ayres.

“Obviously if the Minister says I want you to change it we will do what we are asked,” Mr Newman said.

NRL historian David Middleton was unhappy with the Queensland decision. “I think that’s a pretty ordinary reason considering he played in NSW from 1966 to 1980 – 15 years of his career here. He represented NSW far more times than he represented Queensland.”

Beetson was born in Queensland but played 361 of his first class games in NSW. He played for NSW 18 times until a rule change allowed him to represent Queensland three times at the tail end of his career.

“Not only is he an immortal of the game, he is an immortal of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where he spent the bulk of his career. He is an indigenous legend and the first to captain his country in any sporting code,” Mr Middleton said.

Arthur Beetson with the Parramatta Eels after the 1980 reserve-grade grand final. While they lost, the retiring Artie was chaired off by Ed Sulkowicz and Phil Mann, with Eric Grothe Sr at left.

Arthur Beetson.

Peter Wynn, who played two seasons with Beetson at Parramatta, dismissed suggestions that being a Queenslander disqualified him from having a stand named in his honour. “He is an Aussie isn’t he?” he said.

Eels stalwart and former Kangaroos highest points scorer Mick Cronin said: “I played a lot of games with Artie for NSW and I cannot ever remember him saying he wished he played for Queensland.

“I think it makes a lot more sense to have an Arthur Beetson stand rather than one called the Garrison but there might be a lot of people in the army who will disagree with me,” he said.

“Artie was one of the greatest players of all time and deserves to be recognised.”

Tony Shepherd, chairman of Venues NSW, said the Heritage Trust had followed policy guidelines that called for only NSW players to be recognised.

“We have got other things that can be named to honour Arthur and it would be good if we could do so,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Ayres said: “No names have been presented to the Minister for approval.”