Rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson’s grandson Billy picked in Easts u10’s touch rep team
HE’S the grandson of a rugby league Immortal and it already shows on the field. Billy Beetson is a chip off his Poppy Artie’s block, not only in looks but also in moves. The seven-year-old has been picked for the Rooster’s u10s touch representative team.
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MEET Baby Beetson — the grandson of an Immortal carving out his own career in rugby league.
The Daily Telegraph can today introduce Billy Beetson, a youngster already wearing the same red, white and blue colours of his late and famous grandfather, Arthur.
Despite being just seven years old, blond-haired Billy was selected in the Eastern Suburbs Touch Association u10s representative team — known as the Eastern Suburbs Roosters — which competed at the recent three-day NSW Junior State Cup in Port Macquarie.
Billy also plays weekend rugby league for La Perouse United under 8s in the South Sydney juniors.
He even looks like a young Artie.
“Every day I look at Billy, it’s almost like seeing a reincarnation of our father,” said Arthur’s son and Billy’s father, Mark said.
“I don’t know if many people know this but Dad, when he was younger, he had blond hair.
“Dad’s nickname when he was growing up was ‘Bones’ because he was pretty skinny. He was a centre. Dad only started to put weight on when he matured.”
Arthur is a member of the Easts’ Hall of Fame having captained the Roosters to premierships in 1974 and 1975. He is a true legend of the game.
The name Beetson is now set to live on in rugby league through young Billy.
“I think “Poppy’ is still alive in my head,” Billy said. “My Poppy was the best footy player there was. He was fast.
“I love the colours of the Roosters because they’re the best. I will play footy as I get older, but not touch.
“I also want to play for Queensland, Australia and Roosters. Latrell Mitchell, he’s my favourite footy player.”
While there are no positions yet for his age group, Mark thinks Billy might make a strong centre or second-rower.
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Young Billy has an infectious personality, similar to that of Arthur. And while only young, Billy has potential on the field.
“He’s got a little bit of talent but we try and make sure he has a level head. He is a very good ball runner. He’s got a lot of pace and is very robust,” Mark said.
“He might grow into a lock or second-rower.”
Mark said he was overcome with pride when Billy pulled on the famous Easts colours in Port Macquarie.
“Most definitely. Billy is very much a people’s person but, for someone of such a young age, I watch him and he reads the game so well,” Mark said.
“He does things on the field that other kids don’t. He’ll run around his own teammates in defence to tackle an attacking player.”
Mark often talks about Arthur’s grand feats, young Billy having watched videos of the Immortal in action.
“Billy knows everything about his grandad, we call him ‘Poppy’.
Billy was only young when Dad passed away but he has watched footage of him.
He has seen his grand finals in 1974 and 1975 against the Bulldogs and St George,” Mark said.
Arthur, a former Australian captain, was inducted into the Immortals in 2004 but passed away in 2011.
Many regard Arthur as the game’s finest post-war forward.
Originally published as Rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson’s grandson Billy picked in Easts u10’s touch rep team
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