Beetson's family and supporters expressed their dismay at the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust's decision not to nominate Beetson for the honour of having one of four new grandstands at the new Sydney Football Stadium being named in his honour, despite overwhelming public support. While the family congratulated the three sporting identities who were nominated to have grandstands named after them (Ron Coote, Johnny Warren and Sir Nicholas Shehadie), they criticised the proposal to name a grandstand Garrison in recognition of locally based British troops from the 1850s. Anthony Mundine and Megan Davis also condemned the decision not to put forward Beetson's name for the honour. Chairman of the SCG Trust heritage committee Maurice Newman said that Beetson "didn't make the cut" because he was a Queenslander, rejecting the assertion of it being a "snub" and questioned why there wasn't a grandstand named after Beetson in his home state at a venue such as Lang Park. That reasoning was criticised by NRL historian David Middleton, and former players Peter Wynn and Mick Cronin. Rugby league commentator Ray Hadley also criticised the decision after an attempted compromise with an offer put forward to have Beetson honoured with a statue instead of a grandstand. In March 2022, it was announced that the decision not to name a stand at the new Sydney Football Stadium had been overturned by New South Wales sports minister Stuart Ayres. Beetson's son Mark said the naming of a stand after his father would be a proud moment for his family who described his father as being "up there" with the likes of Cathy Freeman and Lionel Rose as one of Australia's indigenous sporting icons. Mark Beetson also thanked The Daily Telegraph and its readers for lobbying for the change. See also Murri Rugby League Carnival References Further reading Arthur Beetson with Ian Heads, Big Artie The Autobiography'' ABC Books 2004. External links Arthur Beetson at eraofthebiff.com Arthur Beetson's Website 1945 births 2011 deaths Australia national rugby league team captains Australia national rugby league team coaches Australian Aboriginal rugby league team coaches Balmain Tigers players Clive Churchill Medal winners Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks coaches Hull Kingston Rovers players Indigenous Australian rugby league players New South Wales rugby league team players Parramatta Eels players People from Roma, Queensland Queensland Rugby League State of Origin captains Queensland Rugby League State of Origin coaches Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal Recipients of the Medal