Opening game of State of Origin overshadowed by off-field drama

The opening game of the State of Origin series will take place with the NRL handling brushfires off the field.

Dragons player Jack de Belin leaves Wollongong court on Monday where he is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault. Picture: Simon Bullard

The opening game the State of Origin series is only days away but off-field issues took precedent on Monday as Jack de Belin’s long wait to clear his name began in earnest and Manly centre Dylan Walker’s career was on tenterhooks after an incident at a pizza restaurant on Sydney’s northern beaches.

De Belin appeared in Wollongong District Court on Monday morning to face multiple charges of aggravated sexual assault emanating from an incident in late 2018. De Belin hasn’t played a rugby league game since, having been stood down under the game’s no-fault stand-down policy despite protesting his innocence.

Along with his co-accused Callan Sinclair, de Belin entered a not-guilty verdict. Among his 50 witnesses during what is scheduled to be a hearing lasting up to three weeks will be teammates Euan Aitken and Adam Clunes.

De Belin has continued to be paid while suspended and recently struck a new deal with the Dragons that will come into effect should he be found not guilty. The Dragons fended off big-money interest from West Tigers and Warriors to re-sign the NSW forward.

Manly star Dylan Walker is in strife again

The case will also be a litmus test for the no-fault stand-down policy, although the ARL Commission and NRL have shown little appetite to repeal the rule that automatically suspends players on full pay if they are facing charges that carry jail sentences of 11 years or more.

The rule was brought in despite opposition from the players union, prompting the Rugby League Players Association to pursue legal action to have it overturned. The parties are due to head to arbitration to resolve their dispute, adding a layer of tension to talks over the salary cap for next season and beyond.

The NRL had urged the RLPA to back down as part of those talks and chief executive Andrew Abdo is due to hold further discussions with union boss Clint Newton this week. As it stands, they are likely to strike a provisional agreement in cuts to the cap for 2021 given the rugby league year officially began on November 1.

The Italian restaurant at Narraweena on Sydney’s northern beaches where it is alleged that NRL player Dylan Walker assaulted two men before being arrested and charged by police. Picture: Richard Dobson

Walker was stood down under the same policy at the start of last year after being charged with domestic violence. He was subsequently acquitted of charges and cleared to return to the field but now finds his career back under threat after being charged with common assault following an incident outside a pizza restaurant on Sydney’s northern beaches on Sunday night.

Police were called to Little Italy just before 9pm after reports of a physical altercation.

“Police have been told, a man left the restaurant and attempted to enter the vehicle of a woman, unknown to him, parked outside the restaurant,” police said in a statement.

“When confronted, the man allegedly became aggressive and was allegedly involved in a physical altercation, assaulting two men before fleeing.

“The 26-year-old was arrested nearby a short time later and taken to Manly Police Station.”

Manly informed the NRL of the matter and Sea Eagles chief executive Steve Humphreys spoke to a shaken Walker on Monday morning, the incident casting fresh doubt over his future in the game.

Walker missed the opening two months of the 2019 season after being charged over an incident involving his partner Alexandra Ivkovic.

He returned to the field midway through last year and has been on the straight and narrow ever since. The timing of the latest incident could not be worse.

Walker officially entered the final year of his contract on November 1 and is free to speak to rival clubs about the 2022 season. Any interest is now likely to wane given he is once again on the radar of police.

Walker was granted conditional bail to appear before Manly Local Court on November 18. And the NRL integrity unit has continued their investigation into allegations involving North Queensland by interviewing the disgruntled husband who made the claims against the club.