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NSW Waratahs confident of retaining Kurtley Beale despite NRL interest
By Bret Harris and Brent Read
March 11, 2009
NSW Waratahs are confident of retaining star five-eighth Kurtley Beale despite growing interest in him from NRL clubs.
Beale, out of contract at the end of the year, started playing rugby league in Sydney's western suburbs before attending the great rugby nursery, St Joseph's College.
He has made no secret that he would like to play rugby league again one day. But it is understood Beale's negotiations with the Waratahs and the ARU are progressing well.
"I feel confident," Hickey said. "Kurtley is enjoying his rugby. He has made some good steps forward.
"There are a lot of opportunities in front of him and he is keen to take them. There is plenty for him to achieve in rugby and he is in a good position to do that now."
Beale would probably not want to change codes until he has played for the Wallabies and he is not far away from achieving that goal.
After making his debut for the Waratahs in 2007 as an 18-year-old straight out of school, Beale has matured into a very good playmaker.
An ankle injury in the Super 14 final and a hand injury sustained in the gym dashed Beale's hopes of touring with the Wallabies to Hong Kong and Europe at the end of last year.
Beale's Queensland rival Quade Cooper got the jump on him when he made tremendous progress on the Wallabies' tour.
But Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has a high opinion of Beale and if he continues to develop his game, he is expected to come back into national squad contention again this year.
While Matt Giteau is the premier playmaker in Australia, Deans is keen to build the depth in his inside backs.
NRL clubs are keeping an eye on the Beale situation with a view to luring the star Waratahs back across the rugby divide should talks break down with NSW and the ARU.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html