John “Canon” Quayle, a former international teammate of both, recalls an evening in the Hunter Valley when a mining executive asked the pair to speak ahead of a State of Origin match.
“The Denman Bowling Club was rocking,” Quayle recalls. “A capacity crowd.
Arthur Beetson, former Newcastle player Matt Hilder and Tom Raudonikis at one of their speaking arrangements in 2009. Credit: Ryan Osland
“I asked Tommy to moderate the language because there were ladies present.
“He assured me he would but after I finished my emcee duties, he told the audience, ‘It’s great to see the Canon here. He has this image as the son of a Church of England minister but wait till I tell you a few f—— stories about him.’”
Quayle said he glanced in horror in the direction of his wife Diane and other women but, as he says, “They were all killing themselves laughing.”
Arthur responded with his familiar soft giggle and the pair then engaged in their loveable banter.
Neither age nor head…