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Posted: 2019-04-26 11:24:31

"There's obviously a bit of process going on now. Obviously it goes through the code of conduct (hearing)," he said.

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"I guess as a mate you just worry about his head space and you hope that he's okay there. Our full focus shifts now to the game on the weekend for us as a team.

"As a squad, we did that last week and it's important that we continue that and keep building on the progress that we had last week."

Beale and Folau have enjoyed a close playing partnership since the earliest days of the latter's rugby conversion. Managed by the same agent, Folau was also a powerful ally during Beale's own code of conduct process in 2014.

The dual international spoke out in support of Beale while he faced investigation over an offensive message he sent to then-Wallabies manager Di Patston, calling his conduct "wrong" but also defending his character.

"That was something that was wrong," Folau said in 2014. "But in talking about Kurtley, as a person, I really enjoy having him around the team environment. He's someone most of the boys really love having around and we love playing with him. He's been missed around the group, there's a process they're going through, but our focus is on the game this week."

Folau and Beale in action for Australia during the Ireland series in 2018.

Folau and Beale in action for Australia during the Ireland series in 2018. Credit:AAP

It is a sentiment that has been reciprocated by some of Folau's team mates since his April 10 anti-gay social media post but not all, amid rumours the Waratahs and key Wallabies have completely lost patience with Folau's lone-wolf behaviour.

Beale, meanwhile, has made the most of an unexpected run at fullback, a position he has not regularly filled for NSW in years.

"I guess fullback just allows you to have that little bit more space out wide on the edges, and a little bit more freedom to be able to exploit some of the weaknesses in the opposition," he said.

"I feel like I've got the same approach in any position that I have to step up in but there's obviously a certain role at the back that requires a lot more, I guess, a different approach: more running, covering kicks, retrieving kicks and obviously having a bigger kicking game than usual. That's a great challenge for myself."

Georgina Robinson is the chief rugby reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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