Todd Greenberg set to make huge call on future of Dragon Jack de Belin

NRL boss Todd Greenberg is set to make the biggest decision of his career on the Jack de Belin furore as the code continues to suffer from a torrent of negativity over the issue.

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Todd Greenberg has broken his silence on the pressure to make the biggest decision of his career, which will be defined by a game-changing call by the NRL boss to stand down Jack de Belin next week.

Due to the torrent of negativity surrounding the code and it’s damaged brand over the issue, The Saturday Telegraph expects de Belin’s immediate playing future will be formally crushed following an ARL Commission meeting on Thursday.

However, Greenberg is refusing to be rushed or pressured into a decision before the meeting.

The NRL boss has spent the past 10-days besieged by club CEO’s, chairs, fans, sponsors and game leaders, to fast-track a clear call on why the St George-Illawarra star should or shouldn’t be stood down, as he defends a rape charge.

St. George Illawarra Dragons is likely to be stood down from playing by the NRL due to the serious nature of the charge. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

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Acutely aware of the magnitude of the decision, Greenberg has instead chosen to carefully consider the many factors and parties involved, while at the same time, the ARL Commission navigate through the legal minefield involved with overhauling the code’s player behaviour code of conduct policy.

“When you are making these sort of decisions, you are talking about people’s livelihoods, their families. I don’t go off on a whim,’’ Greenberg told The Telegraph.

Todd Greenberg said he would not be rushed on the Jack de Belin decision.

“I know people will say that it takes so long (for the NRL to deliver outcome).

“But I would rather be criticised for being a little more thorough.

“It is a massive decision to conclude policy decisions and finalise sanctions on individuals and clubs.

“These all have an impact on people’s lives.

“I do take that responsibility very seriously and you can tell in my voice talking to you, that I’m passionate about it.

It is highly likely that Jack de Belin will be stood down from playing for the Dragons. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“A big part of my job is to do it properly and professionally.’’

Greenberg added that he would ultimately settle on a decision which may not prove the most popular — but the right one for the code.

“When the Integrity Unit brief me on any evidence, I read every page, every line. Sometimes that can equate to large volumes of material,’’ Greenberg said.

“I make sure I know what I am talking about because they are big decisions on people and I won’t do it lightly.

“You want to make sure you get it right.

“When you do these sort of things it has an impact.

“But I have to uphold the rules. That is a big part of the CEO’s responsibility and this is not a popularity contest. The game is bigger than any individual.

“So if I do it, I want to make sure I am getting it right.

“I have to balance the individual against 16 clubs, a $500 million industry, millions of passionate fans, hundreds of thousands of junior participants and also community expectations.

“I have to figure out the balance about which way you pull the pendulum. It is not simple.’’

Originally published as Todd Greenberg set to make huge call on future of Dragon Jack de Belin