NRL next gen: Roosters sign Arthur Beetson relative, Brandon Beeson, brightest SG Ball, Harold Matthews Cup stars
The legendary Beetson name will once again be represented at the Roosters, after signing the NRL Immortal’s teenage relative to their Harold Matthews Cup team.
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The legendary Beetson blood will continue to flow through the Sydney Roosters this season after big Artie’s teenage relative signed on to play in the Harold Matthews Cup squad.
At 16, Brandon Beetson shares the same striking physical presence as his famous relative.
He stands 193cm (6 feet 4 inches in the old scale), weighs 102kg and plays in the middle.
Previously at the Newcastle Knights, Beetson made the switch to the Roosters this week ahead of the opening round of the under-17s competition this weekend.
While Beetson is not expected to play the first round, his father, Nigel, said his son was champing at the bit to get a crack playing for the same club Arthur captained to back-to-back first grade premierships in 1974-75 under the great Jack Gibson.
“My father (Lloyd Beetson) and Arthur were cousins,” Nigel Beetson said.
“My old man played a little bit of footy at St George. Arthur had scouted him back in the 70s and 80s.
“We grew up in a little place called Brewarrina which is out near Bourke, and my old man wasn’t that keen on the big smoke.”
But four decades on it was Arthur’s son, Mark Beetson, who helped get Brandon on board at the Roosters.
“Brandon was in the Knights (Harold Matts squad) and the Roosters were a bit short on middles,” Nigel said.
“Mark has been sort of following Brandon with his rep footy and club footy up here in Newcastle.
“So Mark contacted me and said ‘what are your thoughts (about having a shot at the Roosters)?’
“He has only been there for a week so he still has to crack the squad.”
But to get an indication on his level of commitment, Beetson is making a five-hour journey to Sydney and back three times a week from his home at East Seaham, a rural suburb in the Port Stephens region just for training, along with the trip to wherever the game is played each weekend.
Asked how proud his son was to be representing the same club as his Immortal cousin, Nigel said: “Brandon’s been a Roosters supporter since he could walk.
“He has always watched videos of Arthur on YouTube.
“And he is a happy Rooster now, let me tell you.”
NRL NEXT GEN: BEST TEEN PLAYMAKER SINCE FITTLER REVEALED
With the future of the NRL getting ready to take the next step towards their ultimate rugby league dreams when round one of the NSWRL junior rep competitions officially kick off this weekend, Paul Crawley identifies 13 of the most talked about teenagers coming through in SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup.
The list includes one young gun rated arguably the best teenage playmaker since Brad Fittler, while an unlikely former Manly centre who has also been likened to a young Jamie Lyon now captains the Tigers.
JOSH FELEDY (TIGERS, SG BALL, CENTRE)
A try-scoring machine at the Sea Eagles but has made move to the Tigers in 2023 hoping for a faster passage through to the NRL. As for the comparisons to Jamie “Killer” Lyon, they come from that fact this kid doesn’t look anything particularly special at first glance but make no mistake he is super quick and extremely competitive, and just knows how to find the try line. Was almost untouchable playing outside the supremely gifted Latu Fainu, so it will be interesting to see how he performs without his former gun playmaker now he’s at Balmain.
LATU FAINU (SEA EAGLES, SG BALL, FIVE-EIGHTH)
Comes from a production line of footballing brothers and this one in particular is rated arguably the most talented teenager to emerge in years. In fact, one good judge even goes as far as to say he could the best he’s seen since Brad Fittler. Which might sound outrageous until you see him play. The word is the Bulldogs even put out a feeler before signing Karl Oloapu recently. If this bloke keeps his focus he could be anything in the years to come.
CHEVY STEWART (RAIDERS, SG BALL, FULLBACK)
Another of the game’s most hyped teenagers who has moved from the Sharks to the Raiders this year and takes with him some huge expectation. Lightning fast and with skills to match, he spent the summer training with the Raiders’ top squad and looks destined for NRL in the years to come.
LUKE LAULILII (MAGPIES, HAROLD MATTS, FULLBACK)
This boom fullback is another of those Roger Tuivasa-Sheck-type lightning bolts and already with a tremendous passing game. Won Matts last year and at just 16 has already been signed into the full-time squad for next year.
LUKE HANSON (PANTHERS, SG BALL, HALFBACK)
Plays like Luke Keary and comes from a system that just knows how to turn talent into long term success.
IVERSON MATAI (BULLDOGS, SG BALL, HALFBACK)
Typical scheming halfback with a good kicking game, the Dogs rate this youngster the real deal. Played junior for Milperra Colts and was a standout for Endeavour Sports High.
TYRONE MUNROE/HAIZYN MELLARS (RABBITOHS, SG BALL, WINGERS)
Munroe scored four tries in a trial and looks definitely on the fast track to the big time. Tall, with speed to burn and is not afraid of the contact, no wonder Rabbitohs Ball coach John Sutton rates him so highly. Also keep an eye out for the other winger, Haizyn Mellars, whose father Vince used to play NRL. Haizyn was also a gifted basketballer whose mother Charmian also played for the New Zealand Silver Ferns at the Olympics. He’s only played league for 18 months so he’s still pretty raw but he could be anything. It’s a shame the Rabbitohs will be without young five-eighth Jye Gray who suffered a hamstring injury in the final minutes of the trials.
ETHAN SANDERS (EELS, SG BALL, FIVE-EIGHTH)/JOSHUA LYNN (EELS, SG BALL, HALFBACK)
Two outstanding young halves who look destined for NRL. Sanders is a Cooper Cronk-style playmaker with good speed, while the Eels picked up young Lynn from Queensland where he starred as another Palm Beach Currumbin graduate.
FINAU LATU (DRAGONS, HAROLD MATTS, LOCK)
Solomon Haumono’s nephew who was a Penrith junior and now captain of this Dragons team. If you remember watching his uncle go around this will bring back memories because he’s incredibly tough, can run, offload, and hits like a truck.
FLETCHER SHARPE (KNIGHTS, SG BALL, FULLBACK)
There’s huge raps on this young bloke up Newcastle way and when you watch his highlights you’ll know why. Super quick, skilful, and just has a real footy intelligence about the way he plays.
DE LA SALLE VA’A (ROOSTERS, SG BALL, PROP)
A young Queenslander equally intimidating in the boxing ring as he is on the football field. You may have read about his older brother Xavier who we previously reported is rated the prop who will eventually take over from Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as the Roosters’ long term enforcer. Well, De La Salle has an even bigger frame and apparently is just as tough. In fact, like his older brother he was also a Golden Gloves boxing champ who at one point was on target for the World Youth Championships before Covid got in the way.
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