Wallabies five-eighth Kurtley Beale on his ‘tribute’ to rugby league great Cliff Lyons

KURTLEY Beale is shaking up his look as well as his role for the Wallabies by rocking a mullet-and-goatee that is a straight salute to the NRL’s indigenous Hall of Famer Cliff Lyons.

Kurtley Beale in action for the Wallabies against South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

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UPDATE: KURTLEY Beale is shaking up his look as well as his role for the Wallabies by rocking a mullet-and-goatee that is a straight salute to the NRL’s indigenous Hall of Famer Cliff Lyons.

Productive style on the field is far more important than hairstyle for Saturday night’s Test against Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast because Beale wants to provide more as Australia’s new five-eighth.

His retro look still had people wondering at its inspiration after the Wallabies’ gritty yet invaluable 23-18 success over South Africa in Brisbane last weekend.

“It all started with Cliff Lyons, one of the greats,” Beale said.

“I’m a huge fan and all of a sudden it just stuck. He was nominated for the Hall of Fame a couple months back so I thought I would run with it and I think it’s going alright.”

Kurtley Beale in action for the Wallabies against South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday. Picture: AAP

Lyons was a classic mullet-and-mo man in the 1980s and ‘90s when a two-time grand final winner with Manly-Warringah and a versatile playmaker who swung from the pack to five-eighth.

Grabbing back a winning vibe for the camp, after four Test losses, and the pack stepping up were more significant for Beale than his own game in tricky, slippery conditions.

“That was a very important one for the group but we are just scratching the surface,” Beale said.

“The forwards certainly brought the physicality and the dominant carries which sucked in the defence but when the opportunity was there to go out the back we just couldn’t capitalise.

“It’s a work in progress with (inside centre) Matt Toomua and an exciting week ahead to build.”

Coach Michael Cheika calculated the Wallabies had “double-digit chances and couldn’t get over the stripe” which is waste that the dangerous Pumas could easily punish.

Taking over from Bernard Foley had not created any angst between long-time friends and the dumped five-eighth had been active with his input to Beale for his first Test at five-eighth since 2014.

“Bernard has been great around the group and he took it really well...he’s a tough, resilient guy who’ll bounce back,” Beale said.

“That’s the quality of the player and person.

Manly great Cliff Lyons. Picture: Simon Cocksedge

“He did a lot of work behind the scenes helping myself and Matty going into last week’s game.”

Importantly, Beale said that playing five-eighth did not mean rewriting the whole way the team plays because the “Wallaby way” should be a style bigger than any single player.

“It’s a matter of staying within the script of how we want to play the game, hit the right spots on the field and then let the shape create the space,” Beale said.

“Bernard was big on that...trust in the shape and back our decision-making whatever the feeling is which was kind of like the first try (for Michael Hooper) because me going to second receiver just happened naturally.

“It’s not trying to do too much or those risky plays.

“Playing five-eighth was obviously challenging (against South Africa) but it’s always an exciting challenge.

“I’m really enjoying it and obviously there is a fair bit to work on because we can definitely get better as a backline to finish things.”

Fullback Israel Folau (ankle) will add more punch to the Wallabies finishing because he is expected to be fit again while backrower David Pocock (neck) still has to make progress to play.

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Originally published as Wallabies five-eighth Kurtley Beale on his ‘tribute’ to rugby league great Cliff Lyons