NRL 2022: ARLC chairman Peter V’landys says No Fault Stand Down policy will not be abandoned

Determined to ‘safeguard the game’s future’, the NRL is on a collision course with the game’s biggest stars following revelations the RLPA wants the ‘No Fault Stand Down’ policy overhauled.

Defiant ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has declared the NRL will not soften its stand down policy amid calls from the players’ association for a review into the controversial system.

The NRL is on a collision course with the game’s biggest stars following revelations the Rugby League Players’ Association wants the ‘No Fault Stand Down’ policy overhauled during upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

The union’s request follows a recent series of players being acquitted, or having criminal charges withdrawn, after being banned from playing as they awaited the completion of court cases.

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Abdo and V'landys have the power to stand down players facing criminal charges.

The discretionary powers handed to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo to stand down players that don’t fit the policy’s criteria has also come under the microscope.

In the past month, Knights playmaker Anthony Milford, Storm prop Tui Kamikamica and the uncontracted Tristan Sailor have either had charges withdrawn or been found not guilty in court after being prohibited from playing in the NRL.

The stand down policy was introduced on the eve of the 2019 season after Dragons star Jack de Belin was charged with aggravated sexual assault, prompting a severe public backlash as he prepared to take the field.

De Belin was stood down and missed the entire 2019-20 seasons due to protracted court proceedings which eventually resulted in hung juries, him being found not guilty of one charge and having the remaining five charges dropped instead of going to a third trial.

The policy sees a player immediately stood down from playing in the NRL until their court proceedings are finalised if they are charged with a crime that carries a maximum jail sentence of 11 years or more.

Despite the majority of players stood down under the policy escaping convictions, V’landys said it was here to stay to safeguard the game’s future.

Anthony Milford had three assault charges dropped. Picture: Brad Fleet

“The policy will not change, we are happy with the policy as it stands,” he said.

“We are not going to tolerate any violence towards women or children. That’s our policy and the way it will remain.

“We lead Australian sport in wanting our players to understand we will not tolerate violence towards women and children. If you do that, you will pay the consequences.

“We are not judging whether they are guilty or innocent. But once they are charged by the police, if it’s a possible jail sentence of more than 11 years, it’s quite serious.

“It’s only applied when it’s a very serious charge and 11 years of jail is very serious.

“We have given discretion to Andrew that if it relates to violence against women or children, he can still stand them down.”

Jack de Belin spent more than two years out of the game.

The No Fault Stand Down policy was introduced during Peter Beattie’s reign as ARLC chairman and was immediately challenged by the players’ association in court, albeit unsuccessfully.

The NRL was facing losing sponsors and the game’s brand being tarnished if it allowed players facing serious criminal charges to continue playing.

De Belin sat out two-and-a-half seasons before being allowed to return to the field while Sailor was stood down in October 2020 and did not have an NRL contract registered for the following season.

It took 18 months before Sailor, son of dual-code superstar Wendell Sailor, was found not guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual assault last month. Sailor, 23, returned to the field with Souths Logan in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup last weekend.

While contracted to the Brisbane Broncos, Milford was charged with three counts of assault, two involving women, and one count of wilful damage in September last year following an incident in Fortitude Valley.

Due to an administration error with new club South Sydney, his 2021 contract had not been registered and the NRL made the decision to not register him “until criminal proceedings against Milford have been completed”.

That meant Milford was not being paid by a club for six months, costing him $160,000, until the three assault charges were withdrawn earlier this month. He plead guilty to throwing a wheelie bin at a car and was fined.

Tristan Sailor was sidelined for 18 months being found not guilty of sexual assault.

Kamikamica was charged with one count of assault following an alleged incident involving a woman in Fortitude Valley last November. He was immediately stood down by the Melbourne Storm and has not played this season, but this week had the charge withdrawn ahead of a two-day hearing.

RLPA CEO Clint Newton said the policy wasn’t working as intended and confirmed the players wanted it reviewed in upcoming contract talks.

“The entire integrity process, which includes the no fault stand-down policy and the player contract registration process, requires an overhaul and an improved system for everyone,” he said.

“We won’t be bringing just our concerns - there is no credibility in just complaining, anyone can do that. We will also put forward our considered views on how it could operate better for everyone’s benefit.

“To be clear, we have openly and repeatedly said we would support a policy that strikes the right balance for all affected parties. We are seeing players missing extensive periods of time due to the no-fault stand down policy, but later having their charges dismissed or found not guilty.

“What I would suggest is more concerning, though, is seeing players lose the ability to secure income in the NRL (or NRLW) when they are denied registrations, by a system that fails in both clarity and transparency for clubs and athletes.

Milford was unable to be contracted while stood down and has since signed with the Knights.

“Is the no-fault stand down policy working how it was intended to work? From various conversations over the last couple of years and what we’ve seen, Blind Freddy could tell you there is opportunity for changes that would improve the policy for all.

“We are absolutely supportive of protecting the image of the game, but it’s our view there is an opportunity to correct the imbalance.

“No one is more impacted by reductions in revenues than the players, which is why we have always remained open and supportive of a policy of some kind, just not in its current form. We want to work through a thorough process with the NRL and clubs.”

The only player currently stood down under the NRL’s policy is Manly hooker Manase Fainu, who hasn’t played since the end of the 2019 season after being accused of stabbing a man outside a church.