Dragons star Jack de Belin withdraws legal injunction bid
The NRL has avoided an ugly, headline-grabbing stoush with St George Illawarra’s Jack de Belin on the eve of the new season, with the star opting not to challenge being stood down from round one.
Suspended St George Illawarra forward Jack De Belin has withdrawn his interim injunction to allow him to play this weekend in the opening round of the NRL.
The court case scheduled for Thursday will not proceed in a huge relief for the NRL on the day it launches the 2019 season when the Broncos travel to Melbourne to play Storm.
There had been fears the court case would ruin the season opener.
Instead a full hearing challenging the NRL’s newly introducted No Fault Stand Down Rule will take place in the Federal court on April 16.
De Belin will not play in the meantime.
“In the interim the No Fault Stand Down Rule will continue to apply to Jack de Belin and he will be stood down during this period,” the NRL said in a statement on Tuesday.
A judge ruled last week the NRL had no right to stand down de Belin because there was no rule in place.
The independent commission had announced a proposal stand down any player facing serious criminal charges.
Door open for Hunt to make return to Queensland
Maroons and St George Illawarra star Ben Hunt is on the outer at the Dragons, and while the Titans and Cowboys have been priced out of his services there remains one Queensland club in the running.
Dragons drop Hunt bomb as star looks elsewhere
Ben Hunt has been given permission to immediately start plotting his exit with claims he won’t play another game for the Dragons.