Why the NRL should’ve stood down Jack de Belin

Jack de Belin will play for the Dragons in March with serious sexual assault charges hanging over his head. That can’t happen.

St George Illawarra’s Jack de Belin, left, leaves Wollongong Local Court yesterday. Picture: AAP

Jack de Belin will run out for St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield at Mudgee on March 2 with serious sexual assault charges hanging over his head. Small children will be expected to cheer.

The 27-year-old NSW Origin forward will then continue to play for his club as if nothing has happened — right up until he faces court on April 17.

Neither the NRL nor the Dragons see any reason to stand him down. Fans will be expected to turn out as if nothing has happened, sponsors will be expected to pay up as if nothing has happened, broadcasters will be expected to screen the games he plays in. Move along, nothing to see here.

But what there is to see is an extremely bad look for the NRL. And if he is allowed to continue to play under the shadow of such serious charges, all the huffing and puffing of Todd Greenberg and Peter Beattie about zero-tolerance of bad player behaviour is meaningless.

De Belin yesterday pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in a Wollongong apartment early on December 9.

Police allege he had sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent, in the company of his friend Callan Sinclair. At one stage, de Belin is alleged to have invited Sinclair to participate, saying “Come on, have a go”, as the alleged victim lay on the bed, crying.

In a horror off-season for the NRL, with six players accused of violence against women, this appears the worst incident.

De Belin, of course, deserves the presumption of innocence. Standing him down doesn’t suggest he is guilty. It merely reflects the seriousness of the allegations.

And if the game is serious about making a stand against poor player behaviour, he must not be allowed to play until the case is resolved.

In corporate Australia, for instance, a senior executive facing such serious charges would certainly be stood down until he had faced court. De Belin is being held to a lower standard than the rest of us. In fact, as a role-model to children and a hero to rugby league fans, he should be held to a higher standard.

Beattie and Greenberg have touted a much tougher line on off-field behaviour after the off-season of ugly headlines. Greenberg has apparently drawn a line in the sand: “We have run out of patience and tolerance for misbehaviour off the field,” he said recently. “Violence against women is the very top of that list. If you’re violent against a woman you can expect to be removed from the game. It starts now.”

Beattie has threatened financial consequences against players who cross the line. Fans, sponsors and broadcasters are revolted by the off-field misbehaviour, he says, and would vote with their hip pockets.

All fine words. But words that apparently mean nothing.

The NRL apparently believes presumption of innocence means we all pretend nothing has happened until de Belin faces court.

“The matter is before the courts and the player has pleaded not guilty,” an NRL spokesman said yesterday.

The Dragons, who had the chance to show genuine integrity by standing down de Belin even though the NRL has refused to, have squibbed it.

Ensuring one of their best players is on the field is considered more important than maintaining a reputation for decency.

In a timid, four-paragraph statement yesterday the club merely aped the NRL, saying it would “make no further comment as this matter remains before the courts”.

They were no doubt delighted that de Belin was successful in having his bail conditions varied so he can fulfil his training and playing obligations. He had been required to report to Wollongong police station twice a week, but that makes it tough to travel to interstate games. So the condition was deleted by a magistrate, despite the opposition of police.

The refusal of the NRL and the Dragons to stand down de Belin is no doubt informed by the cautionary tale of former Manly star Brett Stewart.

Stewart was charged with sexual assault in 2009 but was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing. But the mud stuck and Stewart never really recovered.

The charges against de Belin, however, are more serious than those faced by Stewart. And in a climate when the reputation and financial standing of the game are at stake, an unfortunate incident from the past must not be allowed to stand in the way of doing the right thing now. But in the interests of decency and the good name of the NRL, he should not be allowed to play until he has his day in court.