NRL stands firm on no-fault policy as jury fails to reach decision in Jack de Belin case

The NRL insists the no-fault stand-down rule is going nowhere after a jury failed to reach a verdict on charges against St George lllawarra forward Jack de Belin.

Dragons player Jack de Belin outside Wollongong Courthouse during the jury deliberations. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Simon Bullard

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo reiterated the game’s commitment to the no-fault stand-down policy on Monday — barely 90 minutes after a jury was unable to reach a verdict on sexual assault charges against St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin.

There is every chance De Belin may be forced to wait until mid-year to have another trial, but there is little appetite from the NRL or the ARL Commission to back down. De Belin’s only hope of playing again in 2021 may reside with the players’ union, who continue to challenge the way the rule came into effect.

Arbitration is scheduled to take place in December and if it proves unsuccessful, de Belin is staring down the barrel of a third successive season on the sidelines. De Belin continues to be paid by the Dragons, but there are safeguards in the deal they recently negotiated that protect the club.

That deal has not been registered by the NRL, but they have given the club approval to continue paying the former NSW forward. Dragons chief executive Ryan Webb confirmed they would continue to support de Belin and his family, but Monday’s decision left the club in a difficult spot.

De Belin is chewing into the club’s bottom line with no end in sight for his court battle and no return date on the horizon for the club that has stood by arguably their most important player. They are also hamstrung in the player market by the uncertainty.

De Belin and his team have called for a relaxation of the no-fault stand-down rule but there has been little public support from NRL and ARL Commission hierarchy. Former chair Peter Beattie, the driving force behind the policy, remains on the commission. His position would be under the microscope if the game backed down.

Abdo was one of the key witnesses in the federal court case that the NRL won against de Belin. Like Beattie, he has been a vocal proponent of the rule. ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has also publicly endorsed the rule.

The end result is that de Belin will likely be sidelined for the start of the 2021 season and potentially longer unless the case is fast-tracked or the charges are dropped.

The jurors retired on Thursday having failed to reach a decision and resumed their deliberations on Monday before informing Wollongong District court judge Andrew Haesler that they couldn’t come to a unanimous verdict.

They were then asked if they could reach a majority verdict of 11-1. They answered no. At least two and potentially more of the jury believed de Belin was guilty.

Judge Haesler said a retrial for de Belin and his co-accused Callan Sinclair would take three weeks and could be held in another city if a date could not be found in Wollongong in the near future.

The NRL quickly released a statement insisting the no-fault stand-down policy remained in effect. De Belin can continue to train with the Dragons. He can continue to earn a quid. However, while the charges remain in place, he will not be able to make a tackle in anger.

“The no-fault stand down rule is not about forming a view on the guilt or innocence of an individual, it is about protecting the values and reputation of the game while a serious criminal process is underway,” Abdo said.
“Mr de Belin will remain subject to the no-fault stand down rule until his criminal proceedings have been determined by the court.”