EOYT 2014

[gel]

"He's gone through the process, he's sat his time out. Whatever he has to do, he's now eligible to play for the Wallabies," Slipper said.
"As a playing unit, we look at it from the point of view that [coach Michael Cheika] mentioned at the start of the tour that he will pick anyone that's in the best 30 [in Australia]. No politics.
"He rates Kurtley in the top 30 so he's coming. He's dealt with what he's done. The best thing for Kurtley is to just get back in and work hard. Not necessarily to prove something to us, but prove to himself and the rugby fans.
"He's made a bad decision in the past … we'll always get around a player."

Not exactly the same as saying he is "happy to have Beale back"

Pretty non committal statements.

 

[Tomikin]

hey, hey

i started calling him "The Great Cheik".
the grand Lee Grant abbreviated that to TGC.

you calling LG and me delusional, Punk?

BTW, FYI
the man's family name is Cheika
that's CHEIKA
C-H-E-I-K-A

do we have to send a few truckloads of language teachers down the Hume as a technical package to the ACT, in addition to the Soup team we alredy supply to you?

yep, I am .

 

[Brumby Runner]

The team has continued to stand by Beale throughout this mess. Today Slipper is quoted in the media saying Beale was welcomed back to the squad.

It's all very well to say that Beale is a dickhead and that the team should have a no dickhead's policy but clearly the team as a whole don't think he's a dickhead.

Of the three amigos, arguably Beale and Cooper got themselves into more serious trouble than JOC (James O'Connor) ever did. People within the various teams (Wallabies and Super Rugby) continued to back Cooper and Beale far more than they ever did JOC (James O'Connor).

After all the trouble at the Rebels, it became very clear that the group was keen to move JOC (James O'Connor) on but was far more open to retaining Beale despite his transgressions being more obvious and serious.

Despite all his problems, it seems that the vast majority of Beale's teammates like the guy and continue to support him.

Maybe you need to question the character of all the players if you're unhappy with that.

I much preferred the character and attitude shown by the Rebels in relation to Beale than those being espoused in the press by players' reps these days.

 

[Braveheart81]

I much preferred the character and attitude shown by the Rebels in relation to Beale than those being espoused in the press by players' reps these days.

Look at what the Rebels did though. They made it clear that JOC (James O'Connor) was not a chance of being re-signed but left the door open for Beale despite his problems being far more apparent.

Some of the most supportive comments for Beale have been made to Higginbotham.

If the playing group are actually wishing for Beale not to remain part of their team's, they're doing a really bad job of showing it.

Where were all the anonymous sources from within the playing group dishing more dirt on Beale during the incident? There would certainly have been journalists who would have printed it.

Fans seem to be hoping that the playing group shares their opinion of Kurtley Beale, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[No4918]

It seems to me that assuming that the players are only being supportive of Beale because it's the professional thing to do when fronting the media and actually, they think he's a dickhead and wish he wasn't part of the group seems wishful thinking from fans who'd prefer for Beale not to be there.

Not all players hold the same opinion. Some are prob happy, some prob aren't. I would expect them all to say they are happy he is there in the media though.

 

[Brumby Runner]

It seems to me that assuming that the players are only being supportive of Beale because it's the professional thing to do when fronting the media and actually, they think he's a dickhead and wish he wasn't part of the group seems wishful thinking from fans who'd prefer for Beale not to be there.

I think you may be right here BH. But I'm not going to change my mind about him being unworthy to join the Wallabies again because a few players are being quoted in the press as being supportive. As I am sure you won't change your mind that he is back where he belongs even if the press statements are purely for PR purposes.

 

[It is what it is]

Not all players hold the same opinion. Some are prob happy, some prob aren't. I would expect them all to say they are happy he is there in the media though.

The facts are though that not a single player has said publicly that they are not happy he's in there.
In the past, players have said that about a fellow player publicly.

 

[KOB1987]

argue it with Sir Lee Grant. when you reach agreement, let us know. i am sure we are all breathless for your decision.

btw, "TGC" has been taken up on another large rugby web site.
i and afaik Lee Grant, don't post there

I would be surprised if anyone that uses it and knows what it means isn't doing it purely in jest..I'm certainly in that camp anyway..

 

[Braveheart81]

I think you may be right here BH. But I'm not going to change my mind about him being unworthy to join the Wallabies again because a few players are being quoted in the press as being supportive. As I am sure you won't change your mind that he is back where he belongs even if the press statements are purely for PR purposes.

The only point I was trying to make is that there seems to be a substantial gap between what the public thinks of Beale and what his peers think of him.

Having a no dickheads policy is a great idea and from a personal perspective, our park cricket team has now been going for 15 years and very much employs this policy, but the summation of whether someone is a dickhead is made by the team and those at the centre of it rather than by onlookers.

 

[RugbyReg]

There's a reason Slipper and Hoops went to Link and asked him to keep KB (Kurtley Beale) on tour, and I'm guessing that reason isn't because they think he is a dickhead.

Hoops and Swoops you mean. Yes, I think we know the reason they went.

 

[KOB1987]

Not exactly the same as saying he is "happy to have Beale back"

Pretty non committal statements.

also much more diplomatic and worthy of a Captain than Hooper's at the airport that day!

 

[KOB1987]

Look at what the Rebels did though. They made it clear that JOC (James O'Connor) was not a chance of being re-signed but left the door open for Beale despite his problems being far more apparent.

Take this with a grain of salt, but we had a gathering here a few weeks ago and there was an elderly Classic Wallaby there..I was talking to him re the Beale saga and amongst other things he said that "Beale isn't toxic like O'Connor was"..

 

[Biffo]

I would be surprised if anyone that uses it and knows what it means isn't doing it purely in jest..I'm certainly in that camp anyway..

farrrkkkkkk
why do you think i started calling Cheika "The Great Cheik"?
for some light-hearted fun.
do you think i really think that Cheika is a "great cheik"?
WTF might a "cheik" be?

lighten up

 

[Biffo]

yep, I am .

you have made my day
time for me to go to work.

have a nice day, Punk
i'll be back

 

[KOB1987]

farrrkkkkkk
why do you think i started calling Cheika "The Great Cheik"?
for some light-hearted fun.
do you think i really think that Cheika is a "great cheik"?
WTF might a "cheik" be?

lighten up

huh? I'm being light hearted with you! or at least defending you!

EDIT: I can see why my wording confused you!

 

[Tomikin]

huh? I'm being light hearted with you! or at least defending you!

Yeah, he probably shouldn't go to work drunk

 

[kiap]

farrrkkkkkk
why do you think i started calling Cheika "The Great Cheik"?
for some light-hearted fun.
do you think i really think that Cheika is a "great cheik"?
WTF might a "cheik" be?

lighten up

I'm sorry, Biff – but as a name, it's no great shakes.

 

[tragic]

I'm sure a handful of school kids would publicly back the class clown if push came to shove but it doesn't mean he's not a disruptive influence with a negative impact on the development of the rest of the group.
Actions speak louder than words.

 

[Train Without a Station]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-wallabies-squad/story-fni2fxyf-1227124266485

You’ve made a big call to bring Kurtley over, or do you not see it that way?

I don’t, because it’s important that I stay apolitical. If I don’t select the players who I think should be in the team, then I’m just playing politics and that’s not what I’m interested in. I’m interested in picking a team that’s going to be strong in every game we play. He has trained hard for three weeks and he’s back up to fitness. There’s only a couple of weeks left of the trip, he can add something.

Not sure how sticking to his original word, or saying he’s a naughty boy and therefore needing to sit in the naughty chair is being political. Certainly puts himself in a compromising position being his provincial coach next year, and potentially losing him if the ARU doesn’t re-sign him before next year.

Are you worried it will be a distraction or unsettling to the team?

Not at all. I don’t want to get involved in other stuff. I just want to coach the team as best as I can. If I don’t select him now, when should I select him? Is it any less distracting if I select him in June or July next year? I don’t want to play those games. It would have been easier for me not to bring him (over) but I don’t think it’s the right thing. It can help us, we’re at the end of a long season. Israel (Folau) is clocking up metres at every training and every game and we’ve got no second fullback here. We need to have a little bit of extra energy for the last couple of games.

Well as a coach, you also need to manage distractions so if he doesn’t want to get involved in that perhaps he should find a new profession. I know it’s a cop out line from him though.

And really. No second fullback? Bernard Foley has played fullback, for the Wallabies mind you, more recently than Beale has. Then there is Adam Ashley Cooper who has potentially played as many or more games at fullback as he has in his preferred position of outside centre. So an interesting comment that there is no second fullback. If these were not seen as options why was this never considered before the tour? Folau hasn’t played a greater share of rugby in the games so far compared to the rest of the season.

That’s physical fitness but he has been through a rough time. Will coming back into the team environment help him mentally?

I’m not really thinking about that to be honest. I just look at the choices. Right now is he in the top 33? Yeah he is. So he should be here.

Well you probably should Michael. Beale has been a disaster when he hasn’t been “prepared mentally” in the past.

What message does this give to the other players?
The team knows that if anyone goes outside our own sort of agreement as to how to behave, that player’s out, whether it’s Player A or Player B and that’s all there is to it.

REALLY? Because this seems to say exactly the opposite.

Does the team have a code of behaviour?

Not written down. It’s really just respect. Everyone does their jobs and if you go outside the line, it’s like in normal life. I don’t believe in too many of those sorts of rules. If you have to force it on guys it’s a worry. When I’ve told the team that’s the way I want it to be they’ve really responded to that and matured. It’s like they’re saying ‘he’s giving us the opportunity to behave like responsible men, let’s make sure we take it’.

Considering Beale’s problems have never stemmed from failing to meet any codes of behaviour I don’t see how this will help him. Being given the opportunity to behave like a responsible man has in fact been his downfall at times. And I’m starting to believe it may in fact be Michael’s downfall too unfortunately for him, and a number of patient, loyal Wallaby supporters.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Does the team have a code of behaviour?

Not written down. It’s really just respect. Everyone does their jobs and if you go outside the line, it’s like in normal life. I don’t believe in too many of those sorts of rules. If you have to force it on guys it’s a worry. When I’ve told the team that’s the way I want it to be they’ve really responded to that and matured. It’s like they’re saying ‘he’s giving us the opportunity to behave like responsible men, let’s make sure we take it’.

Isn't this exactly what sparked Link's issues? Unwritten laws - breaking the curfew, and unwritten punishments