Gerard Beale

Gerard Beale

Beale whilst playing for the Broncos in 2011
Personal information
Born	(1990-07-18) 18 July 1990 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb)
Playing information
Position	Centre, Wing, Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2009–12	Brisbane Broncos	63	20	0	0	80
2013–14	St George Illawarra	29	11	0	0	44
2015–	Cronulla-Sutherland	51	7	0	0	28
	Total	143	38	0	0	152
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2011–16	New Zealand	10	5	0	0	20
Source: [1]

Gerard Beale (born 18 July 1990) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks of the National Rugby League (NRL). A New Zealand national representative utility back, he previously played for NRL teams the Brisbane Broncos between 2009 and 2012, and the St George Illawarra Dragons between 2013 and 2014.

Background

Of Māori descent, Beale was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He played his junior rugby league for Logan Brothers before signed professionally for the Brisbane Broncos.^[2][3] Beale is a cousin of All Black great Zinzan Brooke.^[4]

Playing career

2009

Beale played for the Brisbane Broncos NYC team in 2009. In Round 9 of the 2009 NRL season Beale made his first grade debut for the Brisbane Broncos in the Broncos 22-20 loss to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium, where he came in to the side at Fullback as a last minute replacement for Karmichael Hunt.^[5] This was Beale’s only match for the Brisbane Broncos in the 2009 NRL season.

2010

In Round 9 against the Melbourne Storm at the Storms first match at their new home ground AAMI Park, Beale scored his first NRL career try off the interchange bench in the Broncos upset 36-14 win.^[6] Beale finished the Brisbane Broncos 2010 NRL season with him playing in 10 matches and scoring 2 tries. In October 2010, Beale played for the Junior Kangaroos.^[7]

2011

In May 2011, Beale switched his eligibility allegiance to New Zealand.^[8] Beale was named in the New Zealand Kiwis 19th-man Squad to play Australia in the annual ANZAC Test match at Gold Coast's Cbus Super Stadium, however did not play in the match.^[9] In the Semi Finals match against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Suncorp Stadium, Beale accidentally kneed retiring Broncos legend Darren Lockyer in the cheek while catching a high ball near the end of the match, Lockyer later kicked the winning field goal in golden extra time to win the Broncos the match 13-12.^[10][11] This resulted in Lockyer’s last Broncos match after he missed the Broncos 26-14 preliminary Final loss to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at SFS.^[12] Beale finished the Brisbane Broncos 2011 NRL season with him playing in all of the Broncos 27 matches and scoring 10 tries. Beale was named in the New Zealand Kiwis Squad to play in the Four Nations Tournament in the UK. Beale made his international debut for New Zealand against Australia at Hunter Stadium on 28 October 2011 playing as centre.^[13] Beale played in all of the Kiwis 3 matches in the tournament scoring two tries against Wales in the Kiwis 36-0 win at Wembley Stadium.^[14]

2012

On 3 April 2012, Beale signed a 3-year contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons, starting from the 2013 NRL season.^[15][16] Beale finished his last year with the Brisbane Broncos in the 2012 NRL season with him playing in all of the Broncos 25 matches and scoring 8 tries. On 13 October 2012, Beale was selected to play on the left wing for New Zealand in the October test against Australia at Townsville's 1300SMILES Stadium in Queensland. Beale scored a try in the left corner in New Zealand's 18-10 loss.^[17]

2013

In Round 1 of the 2013 NRL season against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park, Beale made his club debut for the St George Illawarra Dragons at fullback in the Dragons 30-10 loss.^[18] In Round 5 against the Newcastle Knights at Jubilee Oval, Beale suffered a season ending knee injury in the Dragons 19-16 win.^[19] Beale finished his first year with the St George Illawarra Dragons in the 2013 NRL season with him playing in 5 matches.

2014

In Round 1 against the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium, Beale scored his first club try for Dragons in the 44-24 win.^[20] On 2 May 2014, Beale was selected to play for New Zealand at centre in the 2014 ANZAC Test match against Australia in the Kiwis 30-18 loss at SFS.^[21] Beale finished off the 2014 NRL season with him playing in all of the Dragons 24 matches and scoring 11 tries. On 7 October 2014, Beale was selected in the New Zealand Kiwis final 24 man squad for the 2014 Four Nations.^[22][23] On 19 November 2014, Beale signed a three-year deal with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, starting from 2015.^[24][25]

2015

On 23 January 2015, Beale was named in the Sharks 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.^[26] In Round 1 of the 2015 NRL season, Beale made his club debut for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks against the Canberra Raiders at centre in the Sharks 24-20 loss at Remondis Stadium.^[27] In Round 22 against the North Queensland Cowboys, Beale scored his first club try for the Sharks in the 30-18 win at Remondis Stadium.^[28] Beale finished his first year with the Sharks with him playing in all 26 matches and scoring 2 tries.

2016

On 29 January, Beale was named in the Sharks 2016 Auckland Nines squad.^[29] On 1 April 2016, there were rumours that Beale was going make a shift to the Melbourne Storm early into the season but the Sharks weren’t too keen on granting an early release.^[30] On 6 May 2016, Beale played for the New Zealand Kiwis against Australia, playing at centre in the 18-0 loss at Hunter Stadium.^[31]

References

External links

• Cronulla Sharks profile