Rugby league boss cops flak for Sharks blunder

Rugby league fans have panned new ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie for his Cronulla Sharks gaffe.

The former Queensland premier and self-described lifelong rugby league fan couldn’t pick the team’s nickname on Monday.

‘‘Before you’re officially welcomed, you’ve got to answer one question,’’ the Nine Network’s 100% Footy host Phil Gould told Beattie in a sit-down interview.

‘‘The team that plays out of the Sutherland Shire – is it the Cronulla Hawks, the Cronulla Seagulls or the Cronulla Sharks?’’

Beattie was unable to answer the question despite watching the Sharks lose to his beloved North Queensland on Friday.

‘‘I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t have a bloody clue but I’ll know next week,’’ Beattie said.

Beattie laughed off the incident and blamed nerves for failing to come up with the correct answer.

Sharks halfback Chad Townsend also saw the lighter side.

‘‘That’s pretty funny,’’ the 27-year-old told Sky Sports Radio. ‘‘It’s pretty surprising.

‘‘I don’t know what’s going on but he’ll have to learn pretty quickly.’’

Not all responses were so forgiving.

Sports presenter Mark Levy was one of many unimpressed with the Sydney-born Queenslander, who joined the ARLC board in 2017 before taking the lead role last month.

‘‘If he followed the game as a kid he’d know that,’’ Levy said.

‘‘Did Peter Beattie just literally ‘Jump the Shark’?’’ one pundit quipped.

‘‘How does the bloke who runs the game not know who won the premiership two years ago. Unfortunately, QLDers only care about QLDers!’’ David Donnelley said.

‘‘Nervous? If that question from Gus made you nervous then you are in for one hell of a ride,’’ JR tweeted.

‘‘Peter Beattie, yet another example of what all politicians and ex-politicians are ... oxygen thiefs (sic),’’ Tony Baj said.

Gould’s question referenced a blunder by Beattie’s ARLC predecessor John Grant, who dubbed Cronulla the Hawks and Manly the Seagulls during a Kangaroos team announcement.