Parramatta Eels player Dylan Brown stood down by NRL over sexual touching charges
Dylan Brown has been stood down by the NRL as he faces five charges of sexual touching – but the length of his absence hinges on a number of factors.
NRL
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Parramatta are set to be without Dylan Brown for at least three weeks – and potentially much longer – after NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo used his discretionary powers on Wednesday to stand down the Eels five-eighth over allegations of sexual touching.
The Eels’ top eight hopes were already hanging by the thread. Now their preparation for Monday’s King’s Birthday clash against the Bulldogs has been thrown into chaos after their star No. 6 was sidelined by head office.
Brown had been named on Tuesday by the Eels to partner Mitchell Moses in the halves but Abdo intervened a day later, using his discretionary powers to stand down Brown only hours after he appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court to answer five charges of sexual touching.
It is understood Abdo took into account the evidence against Brown – including CCTV footage – as well as the nature of the charges before deciding to act. His decision now means the Eels are likely to be without Brown until at least his next date in court on June 28.
Brown’s lawyer David Newham had earlier claimed the CCTV footage of the incident did not support the five charges laid against the Eels pivot.
“It does not support the notion that on five separate occasions Mr Brown has approached this young woman and with both hands has touched both of her breasts,” Newham said. “It does not support that at this point in time.”
The NRL clearly had concerns.
“The NRL has today advised the Parramatta Eels that Dylan Brown is subject to a no-fault stand down condition under the NRL rules,” the NRL said in a statement.
“The NRL decision should in no way be interpreted as a view on the innocence or guilt of the player.”
Brown was charged by police at the weekend after an incident at The Golden Sheaf in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Saturday night. The Eels were on the bye.
Parramatta released a statement confirming the NRL’s decision.
“The Parramatta Eels have been informed by the NRL that Dylan Brown has been stood down from team selection as part of the NRL’s no fault stand down policy regarding the incident this past weekend,” the statement said.
“Dylan will not be eligible for selection until he receives clearance from the NRL. Out of respect for the legal process now under way, the club will not be making any further comment at this time.”
Brown’s absence is a massive blow for Parramatta, whose halves stocks have dramatically thinned after they released Jake Arthur – son of head coach Brad – to NRL rivals Manly last month.
The Eels can apply for an exemption to have a player added to their squad, although they seem more likely to give a club debut to former North Queensland and New Zealand Warriors utility Daejarn Asi, who was on Tuesday named on an extended bench for the Bulldogs clash.
Another option is to use back-up hooker Brendan Hands in the halves, where he played some of his junior football while coming through the Penrith Panthers’ pathways system.
“It is something we have to deal with now,” Eels captain Clint Gutherson said of the Brown situation.
“We just have to get around him, stick to what we have to do and our main focus is footy. Just play footy – that is what we are here to do, that is what we get paid to do and that is what we are going to do.
“He (Brown) has obviously been a little bit down and feels like he has caused unwanted attention. Hopefully it all sorts itself out quickly and we can move on.”
Eels officials were privately hopeful the NRL would allow Brown to continue playing and their decision to stand him down will no doubt raise questions of consistency.
Last year, then-St George Illawarra forward George Burgess was allowed to continue playing after being charged with the same offence.
At the time, the NRL said they would await on the outcome of that case before taking any action for possible breaches of NRL rules, so as not to prejudice the Englishman’s criminal proceedings.
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