Hands off Kurtley Beale, NSW Waratahs tell Western Force

[normie]

Hands off Kurtley Beale, NSW Waratahs tell Western Force

Bret Harris

The Australian March 01, 2011 12:00AM

NSW Waratahs are confident of retaining the services of brilliant Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale in the face of an attempted poaching raid by the Western Force.

After failing to secure Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper, the Force has turned its attention to Beale, who enjoyed a spectacular season with NSW and Australia last year. Like Cooper, Beale is good friends with young Force stars James O'Connor and David Pocock.

In addition to the Force's offer, it is understood Beale could earn an extra $200,000 a year in third-party deals in Perth.

The other option open to Beale is the big money on offer in Europe. Like his Waratahs teammate Luke Burgess, who has been linked to French club Toulouse, Beale is believed to have been approached by Montpellier.

Burgess is believed to have struck a deal to play with Toulouse next year and is just waiting for the appropriate time to announce it.


"It's no surprise. Any player who is performing at the level Kurtley is performing is going to attract interest from other clubs," Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said yesterday.

"We remain really confident we will be able to retain Kurtley. Negotiations will continue over the next couple of weeks.

"Players make decisions based not just around money. They base it around things like friendship and opportunity and things like that."

After struggling to secure a starting position, Beale emerged as one of the Waratahs' key players last year.

While Beale's move from the inside backs to fullback midway through last season helped him to reignite his career, he spent a lot of time at first receiver in the Waratahs' 30-6 win against Queensland Reds in Sydney on Saturday night.

Along with five-eighth Berrick Barnes, Beale provided the Waratahs with more variety in attack.

"Obviously, having played a lot at first receiver he is very comfortable to step into that role," Hickey said.

"We give him the latitude to do that when he sees fit. It just brings another dimension to his game rather than playing at 15."

Rest of story:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1226013770410

[Burgs]

The Sub-Editor strikes again...

I guess "Tahs Confident of Retaining Beale" was too inacurate.

[travelling_gerry]

I don't think the Quade Cooper story is dead yet.

[Swee_82]

The Sub-Editor strikes again...

I guess "Tahs Confident of Retaining Beale" was too inacurate.

Fox Sports went with that one

[BDAVEY]

yeh all ok getting these great players..... but look at EWF efforts with Andre and Willie....zero games. Put the money into the local players and academy and get players that want to come here.. not just for the third party deals.

[Tazzmania]

Unfortunately while that concepts is idealistically correct, the big names put bums on seats and ultimately bring in members and interests from other parties. Home grown talent only gives a warm and fuzzy feeling known big names brings in the "Cash" and this is a business

[Burgs]

There certainly needs to be a balance between development and success (or the striving for), we have just had a bum run.
Andre was a speculator with plenty of flags going up about an injury history, but I don't think you could put Willie into that category prior to contract.
The fact is that the state is not producing Super Rugby starting quality Juniors.
Yet.
That time will come, hopefully sooner than later, but you should not undervalue the asset these "stars" bring to the training paddock for the Academy and junior Squad members, being exposed to that higher level every week.
As with most aspects of life at the moment, Rugby in this state is screaming out for a pot of gold in the form of a Rugby tragic business leader to invest in the things we all talk about each week; continuing the Academy program, developing the local depth, developing the third tier, playing other teams in the pre season.
The facts are that that pot of gold does not exist, at this stage, and until it does we are left to make the most from the scraps of the ARU table.

[Happy]

I've heard this before somewhere.......

Like ______, _______ is good friends with young Force stars ___________ and ____________.

In addition to the Force's offer, it is understood _______ could earn an extra $____,____,____ a year in third-party deals in Perth.

what do we just roll out the same line to anyone these days and then bitch about them when they return to the ________ ???

[Sheikh]

Fairly typical east coast story - absolutely no evidence that the Force are even bidding for Beale, yet alone offering 3rd party deals.

"...it is understood Beale could earn an extra $200,000 a year in third-party deals in Perth."

This doesn't mean anything; it's not a quote, it's Harris's fevered imagination.

That said, if Beale's off contract this year there's nothing to stop us bidding - that's what an open market is all about.

[Hoolly Doolly]

Its funny when berrick barnes went to the tahds there was no scare mongering stories leading up to any negotiations.......in fact i dont think there was any pressure from the media. pretty sure it was only reported after the deal was done.
Compare that too when quade was considering an offer from the force and now maybe beale.......

[Hansie]

Kurtley is, like JOC, a gifted talent. However, his family and base in Sydney have kept him out of the negative limelight, if we bring him over here, who can he turn to? Remember Digby needed his family and hence we lost him.

[Burgs]

I think they may be overestimating the drawing power of JO'C too just quietly, mates are mates but I doubt that would be a deal swinger.

[BDAVEY]

Rather than a player of his sorts i would like to see a bench player that we can sign up a period and devlop him like Inman and Ben Mac... player i would like to see is Haugalu (spell) tahs bench player... big names have don very little to EWF Gits and Mitchell were here one day gone the next... leaving a mess...

[GIGS20]

Hangers is a bit old for mine. If we must plunder new playing stocks, take some kid from the shut shield, or Kyle Godwin. Willie is our development signing isn't he, so it's reasonable to think he's a three year option, maybe longer. If he's the goods, let's use him to develop our own superstar, if he's not......why's he here

[Burgs]

I will again volunteer to be the Force's eyes at Craven Week if they'll cover my expenses...