Beale braves the media

RUGBY union star Kurtley Beale put on a brave face yesterday when he launched the new indigenous Wallabies jersey amid revelations his girlfriend was involved in an “inappropriate relationship” with a high-level AFL executive.

Beale proudly paraded the yellow-and-green strip and at one point welled up at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney’s Redfern, telling the press conference: “I’m a proud indigenous man.”

The 28-year-old yesterday flew back from the UK with girlfriend of five years Maddi Blomberg after re-signing with the NSW Waratahs to unveil the jersey he helped design.

The Blacktown-born star, who played last season with Coventry-based Wasps on a bumper $1.45 million contract, said: “I’m OK, thanks. I’m just getting on with stuff.”

His privately educated eastern suburbs girlfriend Blomberg has been named as one of two women who were in secret relationships with men in the AFL’s top echelon.

Blomberg, raised in Rose Hill, has been linked to the AFL’s general manager of foot- ball, married father of three Simon Lethlean.

Both he and AFL commercial manager Richard Simkiss, who had a relationship with AFL legal staffer Ali Gronow, have resigned over the scandal.

It is understood a third AFL executive is also facing allegations surrounding an inappropriate relationship.

Ms Blomberg met Mr Lethlean, the architect of the suc- cessful AFL Women’s league, while she worked as an Auskick staffer at the GWS Giants.

Beale and Blomberg were last month on their Instagram accounts toasting cocktails while holidaying in Barcelona.

The pair left Sydney in September but with the Australian international now heading home, insiders claimed Blomberg was planning to come back and rejoin the AFL.