Jack Beaton

Brilliant fullback/centre, originally from Yass, played RU for St Joseph’s College Hunter's Hill before going to Lismore to play league in 1933. Beaton was discovered guesting for University in a night-time league competition at the end of 1933 and joined Easts the following year after the cricket season finished. That year he was selected as a fullback for ‘Rest of NSW’ against the Kangaroos before gaining state selection. Beaton played in Easts' 15-12 final loss to Wests that year and went on to play in the champion ‘Tri-colour’ teams that won premierships in 1935-37. Beaton was a fine attacking player at centre, winger or fullback, and a capable back-up goal-kicker to Dave Brown. He represented NSW on 12 occasions between 1934-39 and made his Test debut against England in 1936 before touring with the 1937-38 Kangaroos. Beaton proved himself to be the premier centre in Australia with 7 Test appearances on tour against NZ, England and France as well as top-scoring with 124pts (6t, 53g). Although former English Test captain Jonty Parkin rated Beaton as the best centre he had seen for many years, Beaton retired at the height of his career at age 24 to take up a position with his father’s brewery business.