BEATTIE’S VISION

New NRL supremo opens up in Big Q&A

IF THERE WAS ONE ADDITIONAL TEAM AND IT WAS REDCLIFFE, WELL THAT’S HARDLY GOING TO IMPACT ON THE GOLD COAST.

PETER BEATTIE HAS BEEN JETTISONED INTO ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ROLES IN SPORT: HEAD OF THE ARL COMMISSION. OH, AND THE FORMER QUEENSLAND PREMIER IS ALSO OVERSEEING THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, A PACKED SCHEDULE FOR A MAN WITH BIG VISIONS STARTING THE NEW ROLE Q

Wednesday was your first day in the job as ARLC chairman. Has it been a whirlwind few days?

A

It has been, and the reaction has been incredibly positive in rugby league land so that has been encouraging. This is going to be obviously an interesting time. I am still chair of the Commonwealth Games but I am lucky I can walk and chew chewing gum at the same time. It is one of those skills you learn when you are in public office and I will handle both.

Q

You headed to a Men of League function at Burleigh last night. They’ve done so much great work in the game – did you feel it important to show your support?

A

I wanted to send a clear signal in the first week or so of my chair- manship that I believe in grassroots rugby league. But it’s also about the heroes of the game and that’s why we can’t forget Men of League and the work that they do. We have got to honour them, we have got to honour the former Kangaroos. We have to remember that the elite level of the NRL is fantastic ... but unless you have grassroots clubs like the Burleigh Bears, you don’t have an NRL.