RIP Artie...

Very sad news this morning with the death of Rugby League Legend Arthur Beetson.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/artie-beetson-dead-20111201-1o7vz.html

He had been riding his bike on the Gold Coast and suffered a heart attack.

A leader on the field who played for Redcliffe, Balmain, Hull K.R., Eastern Suburbs, Parramatta, Queensland and the Kangaroos... he will be greatly missed.

"He possessed great strength and toughness, a surprising turn of speed for a big man and was unequalled as a ball player. His skill as a footballer was matched only by his skill as an eater, earning nicknames such as 'Meat Pie Artie'. He is known and immortalised by his performance of eating 11 hot dogs before a gala dinner for the Australian team in 1973.

His big frame, pure speed and brilliant ball skills won countless games for all his teams. His off-loading and attacking workrate broke the mould for front rowers and changed the way they played the game."

We'll miss you Artie...

Tragic news. RIP Artie

State against State... Mate against mate....

Artie Beetson (Parramatta and Queensland) versus Mick Cronin ( Parramatta and New South wales)...State Of origin one, July 1980...I saw the game in Mount Isa.

They're just showing that again now. I was in Chch... and copped a lot of stick from the cousins. 20-10 was the scoreline if I remember correctly.

Tributes flowing in from everyone now - he was a very popular bloke on both sides of the border.

He only played a dozen games for Hull KR , but made such an impact he is still talked about . Very sad news R.I.P. Artie

Legend. Utter legend. His death casts a huge shadow over the game.

Roosters hero and never forgotten