Sexual assault charges against NRL star Jack de Belin dropped
NRL star Jack de Belin will return to the footy field for the Dragons on Saturday, after sexual assault charges were dropped against him.
Police & Courts
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Jack de Belin’s long road back to the NRL will start on Saturday when the former NSW lock steps onto the field for the first time in 30 months.
De Belin is free to return after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped sexual assault charges following two court trials.
The Dragons will fast-track the forward’s return, with de Belin to play in a reserve grade fixture against Western Suburbs at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday.
The NSWRL will provide extra security guards to protect de Belin.
He is now free to take up his four-year, $3 million deal with the club after agreeing to a contract extension in September. The fourth year is an option in de Belin’s favour.
De Belin’s first words when he was told of the news of the charges being dropped on Thursday was “it is over”.
“You could sense relief and happiness that 2½ years of concern and struggle and fight was finally concluded,” manager Steve Gillis said. “It’s really important for him to process everything and get back out there and do what he loves doing.
“It’s easy to say he is bulletproof and tough and I’ve met no one like him, which is true. I know it’s had an enormous toll on him. He always believed he would be cleared. But it had an enormous toll on his family.”
St George Illawarra boss Ryan Webb confirmed de Belin would re-join the first grade squad next week. He had been training with the reserve grade side since new coach Anthony Griffin arrived this year.
“Now we bring Jack back into the club,” Webb said. “We’re learning together how quickly he will come back into first grade and we’re keeping an eye on his welfare. His body is in good nick. His mind has been in a lot of places in recent months.
“I’m not sure people how will react. We will watch it and communicate with Jack. I hope fans are welcoming.”
The Dragons forward, who turned 30 last week, and his friend Callan Sinclair, 24, were charged with sexually assaulting a teenager after a Wollongong pub crawl in December, 2018. De Belin’s partner was at home pregnant with their first child on the night in question.
De Belin became the first player stood down under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy. Former ARL chairman Peter Beattie, who remains a commissioner, led the push for the introduction of the policy and “stood by” the rule on Thursday afternoon.
“It was the right decision for the game,” Beattie said.
“The rule is in the best interests of rugby league and necessary to maintain the public’s support for our game.
“I am no longer chair of the ARLC so it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual players or particular judicial outcomes, other than to say I will be remaining a Commissioner until the end of my term in February 2023 and during that time I will maintain my strong support for the stand-down rule”.
NRL boss Andrew Abdo confirmed there were no plans to shelve the policy, despite the Dragons calling for a review.
De Belin’s federal court challenge of the policy failed as did an arbitration hearing with the Rugby League Players Association.
Abdo indicated he was willing to speak with de Belin before he returned to the field.
De Belin, who is expecting a second baby with his partner Alyce, and Sinclair defended the matter and maintained the 19-year-old woman consented to sex, pleading not guilty to five counts of aggravated sexual assault.
An ODDP spokesperson confirmed the charges would not proceed.
“In circumstances where two juries were unable to agree upon a verdict, the Director of Public Prosecutions has determined not to proceed to a third trial against Jack de Belin and Callan Sinclair,” the spokesperson said.
De Belin’s barrister David Campbell SC told The Daily Telegraph “the presumption of innocence has triumphed”.
One count of sexual assault was dismissed at the most recent trial in April, but the jury of 12 was unable to reach a decision about the remaining four counts.
Crown Prosecutor David Scully SC, who has represented the state in both trials will formally drop the charges in court on Friday.
The trials heard de Belin and Sinclair had met the woman at popular Wollongong nightclub Mr Crown with friends.
According to the prosecution, the woman went back to de Belin’s cousin’s unit because the men had said they were going to charge their phones, and she went inside to use the bathroom.
The woman alleged the men sexually assaulted her in the unit, but de Belin and Sinclair said the sex was consensual.
De Belin’s Barrister David Campbell SC told The Daily Telegraph “the presumption of innocence has triumphed”.
“Obviously we’re delighted that it’s all over. It’s been a tough journey,” he said.
“We’d like to see everyone move on with their lives and do their best. I have faith in the legal system and the presumption of innocence has triumphed.”
It was alleged at trial that De Belin and Sinclair sexually assaulted a woman, then 19, in the early hours of December 9, 2018 after meeting her on the dancefloor of Wollongong nightclub Mr Crown.
The men claim the threesome that ensued at a nearby unit was wholly consensual, and deny the woman’s claims she was raped orally, vaginally and anally.
It is expected de Belin could be cleared as early as Thursday afternoon to restart his NRL career.
The news means De Belin is now free to take up a four year deal he signed with the Dragons.
The contract is worth about $3 million with the former NSW lock having the fourth year being an option in his favour.
The NRL said once charges were formally withdrawn, it would then register a new contract between de Belin and the St George Illawarra Dragons which was agreed by the club during the 2020 season.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the game’s “No-Fault Stand Down” rule had protected its stakeholders and ensured de Belin continued to receive support from his club and earn an income from the game.
“We make no apology for taking the hardest stance in Australian sport where our players are charged with serious criminal offences. We cannot remain indifferent to such charges, particularly those against women,’’ he said.
“The ‘No-Fault Stand Down’ rule upholds the values of the game, protects the game’s commercial relationships and provides safeguards for the very small number of players who find themselves the subject of serious criminal charges.
“This is an example of our processes working. Jack continued to be employed by the club and was able to extend his contract with the Dragons during the process.
“The rule worked as it should.
“Once there are no longer charges against him, Jack will be free to play. Our welfare team will continue to liaise closely with the Dragons.”
St George Illawarra will lodge de Belin’s contract with the NRL as soon as Thursday afternoon and will push to have him cleared by this weekend.
They want de Belin to play in the Dragons’ NSW Cup fixture against the Magpies on Saturday.
It will be up to the NRL if they can finalise the paperwork in time to allow him to return to action.
In a statement today the Dragons confirmed that de Belin would remain at the club until at least the end of the 2023 season.
Dragons CEO Ryan Webb said: “Today’s outcome concludes a tumultuous period for all involved in the Jack de Belin matter.”
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