Jack de Belin’s lawyers hit back at NRL’s submissions claiming they advanced the case
Lawyers for NRL star Jack de Belin have accused the ARL Commission and the NRL of a “deliberate forensic decision” not to call sponsors, broadcasters or fans as part of the initial federal court hearing that led to him not returning to the field.
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Lawyers for St George-Illawarra star Jack de Belin have renewed their attack on the ARL Commission and NRL, accusing the governing body of a “deliberate forensic decision” not to call sponsors, broadcasters or fans as part of the initial federal court hearing that resulted in the forward failing to return to the field.
De Belin, currently suspended under the game’s no-fault stand-down policy after being charged with aggravated sexual assault late last year, will return to the full Federal Court later this month as he attempts to have the policy overturned.
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His legal team, headed by Arthur Moses SC, filed their reply to the NRL’s submissions on Wednesday with the federal court.
They claimed that the ARL Commission and NRL advanced their case without evidence from a single sponsor, broadcaster or fan as to the risk of de Belin continuing to play.
They said that the ARL Commission and NRL justified that decision by contending it would be commercially unsound to call such evidence.
“They cannot avoid their onus,” de Belin’s legal team wrote.
“The law does not bend to commercial preferences.”
They claim the NRL relied on solicited and unsolicited emails, and internal reports containing third-hand hearsay to prove their case.
They said much of that evidence was wrongly admitted and accused the NRL of deciding not to call sponsors, fans or broadcasters out of fear that evidence would fail if properly tested.
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