Regardless of Jack de Belin verdict the NRL will not change no-fault stand-down policy

Save your outrage, the NRL won’t be backing down, backflipping or scrapping the no-fault stand-down policy writes David Riccio.

Jack de Belin should learn the jury’s decision as early as this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

If Jack de Belin is found not guilty of sexual assault charges, possibly as early as Monday, it won’t take long for the spotlight to shift from Wollongong to League Central.

This column isn’t suggesting one outcome over another.

But the NRL are well prepared for a guilty verdict and what a not-guilty verdict means for them — and most importantly, their polarising no-fault stand-down policy.

There will be calls from some sections of the media and some fans for the rule to be scrapped if after 21 months — or 640 days to be exact — de Belin is cleared of all charges.

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The Dragons are keen to welcome Jack de Belin back into their team. Picture: Brett Costello

As was the hysteria when the rule was first introduced on February 28, 2019, by the ARL Commission, flares of outrage will be fired.

The NRL is ready for it — and they already have a response.

They’re remaining steadfast. They won’t be backing down, backflipping or scrapping the rule.

De Belin was the first of three players — Dylan Walker and Tyrone May being the others — to be stood down when the policy was first introduced.

Almost two years later, De Belin’s wait is nearly over.

The jury in the trial for de Belin and co-accused Callan Sinclair retired from Wollongong Local Court last Thursday to deliberate their verdict.

They were unable to reach a decision, with Monday scheduled as the date for the resumption of deliberations.

If de Belin is found not guilty, the Dragons have already indicated they will welcome back the key forward with open arms.

The Dragons hierarchy will be on a phone hookup after the verdict.

As for the rest of the commentary, that will steer towards the NRL’s policy and whether the NSW and St George Illawarra forward is owed an apology for losing two seasons of his career while being stood-down under the policy.

Here’s the tip; it won’t be forthcoming.

NRL CEO Peter V'landys says the code has no intention of changing the no-fault stand-down rules. Picture: NRL Photos – Pool/Getty Images

Before being appointed ARL Commission chairman, Peter V’landys was a director on the rugby league board when the rule was first introduced.

He knows that some of the directors initially had reservations about adopting the rule, on the basis of innocence until proven guilty.

However, those same directors quickly supported the new rule when the brand and reputational damage that the code was suffering, without a rule, was spelt out in the most graphic of detail.

At the time, the game was in a constant state of contradiction – pitching to mothers and children to play and support rugby league, on the same day another player had been charged for alleged assault, but still allowed to run out onto the field and score tries for their team.

The individual cases related to de Belin, Walker and May were the tipping point.

While Walker was eventually found not-guilty of a domestic violence allegation and May sentenced to 300 hours community service over sex tapes filmed without consent, the cases placed the game under siege from their major partners, who openly reached out to the NRL to voice their concern that something had to be done.

Dylan Walker, at Manly Court, was eventually found not-guilty of a domestic violence allegation. Picture: Chris Pavlich

The commission responded by adopting the policy while firmly stipulating that the rule was only for the most serious of criminal charges with an offence which carries a maximum prison sentence of 11 years or more.

And in the near future, the NRL have no plans to scrap the rule.

“I will and I will continue to stress, we are not, in any way saying a player is innocent or guilty,’’ V’landys told this column.

“What we’re doing is protecting the image of the game.’’

The NRL is content the policy is “working” with the commission addressing the policy internally, aware of what may come their way, next week.

“We’re unanimous that the stand-down policy is the right thing to do,’’ V’landys said.

“We discuss the policy all the time. We constantly review our rules, like every good board does.

“But we won’t be changing the rule.’’

Originally published as Regardless of Jack de Belin verdict the NRL will not change no-fault stand-down policy