‘I won’t quit’: Beattie says no-fault stand-down rule still right for NRL

Peter Beattie, the architect of the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy, maintains it was and remains “the right decision for the game”, and vowed not to quit the Australian Rugby League Commission despite sexual assault charges against Jack de Belin being dropped on Thursday.

Former ARLC chairman Beattie issued a short statement on Thursday reiterating his support for the controversial rule, which sidelined de Belin for more than two years before the Director of Public Prosecutions opted not to pursue a third trial against the Dragons forward and co-accused Callan Sinclair, a Shellharbour Sharks player.

The previous two trials resulted in hung juries, although the pair were found not guilty on one charge earlier this month.

The no-fault stand-down policy was the legacy of former Queensland Premier Beattie’s tenure as the ARLC top dog before he took a back seat to Peter V’landys. Beattie still has almost two years to run on his term as a director.

In a statement issued to the Herald, Beattie said the policy had been needed for the game to survive amid a mountain of alleged player misbehaviour.

“I stand by the stand-down rule and the ARLC’s decision to introduce it,” Beattie said. “It was the right decision for the game. The rule is in the best interests of rugby league and necessary to maintain the public’s support for our game.

‘It was the right decision for the game. The rule is in the best interests of rugby league and necessary to maintain the public’s support.’

Peter Beattie

“I am no longer chair of the ARLC so it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual players or particular judicial outcomes other than to say I will be remaining an ARLC commissioner until the end of my term in February 2023, and during that time I will maintain my strong support for the stand-down rule.”

But St George Illawarra chairman Andrew Gordon wants the rule to be reviewed imminently, despite it surviving a Federal Court challenge from de Belin in 2019.

It was also the subject of an arbitration hearing with the Rugby League Players Association, which challenged its validity after claiming it was introduced without consultation, breaching the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Asked whether the no-fault stand-down rule needed reviewing, Gordon told the Herald: “One hundred per cent, something needs to happen. In principle, it sounds like a fair and reasonable action to take by an officiating body. The problem is that in practice, there are many pitfalls in it.

Former Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie.Credit: James Brickwood

“This is one of the biggest ones we have seen in Jack not being able to play for three years [during] the process, at great expense to the club.

“I don’t have the answers from where I stand right now, but they do have to re-evaluate the whole thing and use it as a learning experience. It’s been a very painful one for those involved. Hopefully it results in them coming back and adjusting policy to make it a workable policy.”

The Dragons continued to pay de Belin’s wage in full until the end of the 2020 contracting period despite him not playing a game since the 2018 finals series. He was on a $595,000 deal last season.

The club signed him to a four-year extension worth about $700,000 per season late last year, but De Belin has been on a reduced wage of $1000 per week until his court proceedings were resolved. The NRL were finalising the registration of his new contract on Thursday.

Jack de Belin leaves Downing Centre Local and District Court.Credit: Nine

De Belin’s lawyer David Campbell SC said his client would not be rushed into a decision on seeking damages after having his career put on hold for more than two years without being convicted of a crime.

“As for the efficacy of that rule, it might have to wait for another day,” Campbell said. “Whether there is [legal action] or not is ultimately up to Jack, but I think at the moment he just wants to get the boots on and show everybody he knows how to play football.”

De Belin is due to make his return to the field in a NSW Cup match for the Dragons against Western Suburbs on Saturday.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said he would be happy to meet de Belin before his NRL return if the former St George Illawarra forward desired, with the code, Dragons and RLPA to continue offering the 30-year-old welfare support.

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton wouldn’t be drawn on the merit of the no-fault stand-down policy, which has also sidelined promising Manly hooker Manase Fainu after he allegedly stabbed another man at a Mormon church dance.

“Today is not the day to talk about the no-fault stand-down policy,” Newton said. “That’s out of respect to all the parties involved. There will be a time for it, but today is not the day.”