Monday Buzz: Arthur Beetson’s family call for review over Sydney stadium naming farce

Arthur Beetson’s son has addressed his father’s snubbing from Sydney’s new $850m stadium, while former NRL star Anthony Mundine has also weighed in.

The son of rugby league immortal Arthur Beetson has called for a review of the naming of four grandstands at the new $850 million Sydney Football Stadium following the snubbing of his father.

The Daily Telegraph revealed on Monday the Sydney Roosters legend had been overlooked despite overwhelming support from the public in online polls.

Mark Beetson spoke Monday on behalf of his family about their disappointment.

“There’s no point getting agitated but we need to ask the question about the process,” Beetson said.

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The decision not to name a stand after Arthur Beetson at the new SFS is expected to cause controversy.

“Firstly the family wants to congratulate the three sporting icons who have been nominated.

“They’ve done so much in sport both on and off the field, especially Ronny Coote who was really good mates with my old man.

“He started the Men of League Foundation. It’s well deserved.”

The SCG Trust has named the four stands after Coote, soccer legend Johnny Warren, rugby union icon and former Lord mayor Sir Nicholas Shehadie and Garrison, which recognises the British army from the 1850s who were based at Victoria Barracks and played sport on what is now the SCG.

Mark Beetson wants a review after Artie’s snubbing. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Anthony Mundine is fuming over the decision. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jenny Evans

The fact Beetson’s claims were ignored was always going to create controversy.

Outspoken former NRL and boxing champion Anthony Mundine has slammed the decision.

“You can’t be serious - no-one deserve a grandstand more than Artie Beetson,” Mundine said.

“Everyone looked up to Artie Beetson. The impact he had on the game was just insane.

“His legacy will live on forever and he needs to be recognised.

“It’s really disappointing because we were making progress. It’s more fashionable these days to stand up for the plight of Aboriginal people. And then this happens.”

Mark Beetson and his family were most upset about the Garrison Stand.

“We respect the choices and the process,” he said, “but with the current state of the nation and how we perceive indigenous history - naming a stand Garrison after British troops from 1850 – it’s a bit disappointing. I don’t understand how they arrived at that.

“I think it would have been appropriate to see dad there.

“It’s not just what he did for the Roosters but the fact he was the first indigenous man to captain an Australian sporting team and did a lot in the community.”

He said the family was overwhelmed by the support from Daily Telegraph readers.

“To read the article and see the support for dad from readers is really important and very special,” he said.

“Even if it’s not dad, at the end of the day it’s prestigious to even have him in the conversation.”

How Phil Rothfield broke the story

Sydney Roosters legend and rugby league’s greatest Indigenous player Arthur Beetson has been snubbed in the naming of four grandstands at Sydney’s new $850 million football stadium in Moore Park in a decision described as “inexplicable.”

The rugby league Immortal had three times the support of any other sporting legend in a News Corp poll last year in regards to honouring football greats from rugby league, union and soccer.

An SCG heritage committee headed by businessman Maurice Newman, former politician and SCG Trust chairman Rodney Cavalier and media director Phillip Heads have ignored public opinion and disregarded the man who became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport.

Instead the stands will be named after:

* Ron Coote, the old South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters champion, who is considered by many to be the best ever player not to be named an Immortal.

* Australian soccer legend Johnny Warren, whose stand will be at the northern end of the stadium where The Cove supporter group is based for Sydney FC A-League games.

* Former Wallabies captain and legendary rugby union figure Sir Nicholas Shehadie.

* And, controversially, the Garrison stand, which recognises the British army soldiers from the 1850s who were based at Victoria barracks and played sport on what is now the SCG.

Captain Arthur Beetson chaired from field after Easts defeated Canterbury in the 1974 first grade grand final at the SCG. Picture: Archive News Ltd

Former Socceroos player Johnny Warren will be honoured with a stand. Picture: Archive News Ltd

The fact Beetson’s claims have been ignored will create enormous controversy.

Big Artie played for the Roosters between 1971 and 1978 on the old Sydney Sports Ground, winning two grand finals as captain next door on the SCG in 1974 and 1975.

He also coached the club for six years and there is no bigger name in the game’s history.

Indigenous activist and NRL independent commissioner Professor Megan Davis is not happy.

Eastern Suburbs Roosters 1975 premiership-winning team. Arthur Beetson fourth from right, top row.

“Many in the Aboriginal community will find the lack of recognition of Artie Beetson inexplicable,” Davis said. “Artie was the first Indigenous captain to lead his country in any sport and this was at a time Aboriginal people were subject to the most egregious racism and exclusion.

“Artie is an Immortal and an icon. His legacy speaks to the inclusion of sport, the emancipatory potential of sport and the role it plays in social cohesion in Australia. There must be a way to recognise Artie Beetson.”

In a News Corp poll last year Beetson had more than three times the support of any other sporting legend for the naming of the four grandstands.

There is no questioning Coote is a great choice.

He has been honoured for not just his rugby league career in which he won six grand finals, four at the South Sydney Rabbitohs and another two at the Roosters.

It was Coote who worked so tirelessly in retirement to establish arguably Australia’s best sporting charity, the Men of League Foundation, which caters for ex-players and officials who have struggled with medical and financial difficulties.

But seriously … Garrison ahead of Beetson?

The name Garrison is more aligned to the Sydney Cricket Ground from 170 years ago, not the football stadium.

And if it was so important to honour the history of the area, why not the original land owners, the Gadigal people, instead of yet another nod to the British colonial regime.

Beetson was also the Sydney Roosters’ nomination when the club’s board was consulted last year.

Surprisingly the stand names have already been signed off by many of Sydney’s most respected sporting types on the Venues NSW board including chairman Tony Shepherd, John Quayle, broadcaster Alan Jones, Todd Greenberg and Rod McGeoch.

Only the premier Dominic Perrottet has the power to overturn the decision. And hopefully it is something he will at least consider.