A pool at Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Origin camp will be re-named in Arthur Beetson’s honour – not that Maroons coach Mal Meninga will ever need to be reminded about the late legend.
Asked how Beetson had been honoured at the camp on Wednesday, Meninga could not resist taking a cheeky dig at a man who could truly be called larger than life.
“It is a pool. I never saw him swim though,” he smiled, prompting a roar of laughter at a team luncheon held at Beetson’s hometown Roma, in the state’s south-west.
But Meninga was deadly serious when he spoke of the impact Beetson had made on not only his career but his life.
The team’s Roma visit was always going to be emotional after Beetson’s passing in December 2011.
However, it was Meninga who looked most likely to do his best Beetson impersonation and produce a “trembling bottom lip” when he spoke of the great man.
“I always remembered before games he would write letters to us – that was pretty significant,” Meninga said of his Origin playing days.
“We used to wait for them in suspense.
“It was only a couple of short messages but it was important to me not only so I could understand what it meant to him and also so that I didn’t let the big fella down.”
While touched by the acknowledgement, Meninga said Beetson did not need a pool to be remembered by the Maroons.
“I always remember a speech he made, when he was announced to be an Immortal, he was emotional.
“The bottom lip was trembling and you could see the eyes water up – he always had that passion.”
Beetson’s teachings helped Meninga overcome many obstacles – including racism – not only during his playing career but in life.
“He made me realise that ancestry is important,” he said.
“I’m an Australia-South Sea Islander. Before I met Arthur, I didn’t worry about that sort of thing.
“He got me realising what my heritage is and the important parts of recognising that and that you are out there trying to help your people.”