Sponsors actively following Jack de Belin case and NRL’s response

With just days until the new NRL season kicks off, the game is facing an unprecedented crisis over its handling of star player Jack de Belin’s rape case, with Dragons’ sponsors actively looking into the issue and the NRL’s response to it.

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With just days until the new NRL season kicks off, the game is facing an unprecedented crisis over its handling of star player Jack de Belin’s rape case.

Wests Tigers chair Marina Go has ratcheted up the pressure even further on the game’s bosses to stand him down.

“I support the growing calls from people in the game, and the growing sentiment from the fan base, and I too am on the side of him being stood down,” Ms Go said.

“I believe he should be stood down, not because most other people do, but because it is the right thing to do for this situation for our game. And also for Jack de Belin. The reputational damage to our game increases the longer nothing happens.”

St. George Illawarra Dragons player Jack de Belin has pleaded not guilty to a rape charge. Picture: AAP/Dean Lewins

Some of the code’s major sponsors are also expressing concern.

Insurance firm youi, the official NRL referees sponsor whose contract is due to expire at the end of this year, said it was actively discussing the NRL’s response.

“The incidents we have witnessed recently have been unacceptable and we have been actively engaging in discussions with the NRL on their response,” a spokeswoman said.

“Players should be held to account for their actions and we expect the NRL will address these issues and rebuild the values we support.”

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Other sponsors said they were aware the NRL was looking at the issue.

Channel 9 has also weighed in, blaming the code’s handling of its “summer of shame” for trashing its attempts to lure back more female viewers. The broadcaster is furious at the financial risks it now faces.

“The game needs to draw a line in the sand and say, ‘from now on, it’s not just about illegal behaviour that can bring a police charge, it’s about anything that can bring the game into disrepute’, ” one Channel 9 boss said.

De Belin, 27, is accused of raping a woman inside his cousin’s apartment in Wollongong on December 9 last year.

He denies the charges.

Originally published as Sponsors actively following Jack de Belin case and NRL’s response