Dragons star Jack de Belin has dropped his legal action against the NRL's no-fault stand-down policy, reports The Daily Telegraph.
The lock's representatives were appealing the legitimacy of the policy that has caused him to miss the entire season, stood down in March after being charged with sexual assault.
However, the two-day hearing which commenced on Thursday morning did not last long.
The NRL released the following statement after de Belin's decision: “We have always held the view that the no-fault stand down rule is in the best interests of the game and are pleased that the legal challenge to this rule has now been concluded,” the statement read.
“The NRL’s no-fault stand down rule introduced in March 2019 and confirmed by the Federal Court in May continues to apply.
“The Commission and the NRL take very seriously our responsibility to protect the reputation of the Game and its stakeholders.”
The 28-year old has pleaded not guilty to five charges of aggravated sexual assault in company for an alleged incident with a 19-year old woman in Wollongong in December.
He will strand trial on March 2 just a fortnight before the 2020 season. If found not guilty, he could be free to play round one of next year.
If the history of rulings on suspensions etc in the NRL has taught anyone anything? It should be that it’s a bad idea to challenge the NRL rulings. They’ll just look to get back at your club in different ways. If you want to become the most penalised club in the competition Have your suspension lengthened . Have the NRL looking to suspend players on minor transgressions. Go ahead & challenge decisions. If De Belin has done what he’s been accused of? He shouldn’t play again. If he’s innocent? Still no use in challenging.
Only very special clubs , players can get away with that. Sorry, you don’t play for one of those clubs.
Gee East, you need to see the men in white coats mate.
I never thought that DeBelin stood a chance with this and that clearly dawned on him at the appeal. His case was very very weak in must be said. He has now thrown away an awful lot of money that could have gone towards his real problem court case or support his family if he was convicted. Even if he is proven innocent he has been proven to be a very very silly man. For mine, any lawyers that told him he could win that appeal with that case ought to be sued for malpractice.
100% agree with Rucky.
IF he is found guilty, (these a very, very serious accusations) the only place he’ll be playing footy is Long Bay.
The only winners in this whole mess are the greedy and grubby lawyers
I am not a lawyer but even I would have been ashamed of the case his lawyers put together. Very flimsy, I think the office cleaner must have stood in and put it together. Seriously though, those lawyers must have known that it would not fly yet they persisted with it and continued to take DeBelins money. Surely there is some sort of case to answer here ?
On a separate note, I saw that the appeal had been stood down stating that DeBelin and the NRL had reached an agreement. Since the NRL have reconfirmed their Stand Down Policy, I suspect that the NRL has borne the costs.
Guess he finally realised hes got more to worry about then the nrl at the moment. Hope hes been stocking up on “soap on a rope” & doing lots of butt cheek clenching exercises,
Sure thing Edwin..
Your going on again about a South’s player. In a story about De Belin. Seems as though you can’t say anything much , without going on about the club that must be your second favourite . SOUTH’S!
As for you Rucky. If you could read between the lines. You could see that I was just using this story to have a go at the NRL rulings on suspensions . Plus how certain teams are clearly favoured in general , above others. Clearly you can’t . I’ll spell it out in simpler terms for you next time.
I was wondering guys, if he goes to the big house at Long Bay, would he become a Souffs junior??
I’m sure this prospect will excite TwistedONE
Hey Edwin.. Why don’t you sign as as one of your other personalities, in that split up head of yours, like Frank. You could agree with yourself again .
Just like that Edwin. Edwin, Frank, chookstool. Plus another 20 sign in names over time. All pellets from the same rabid chicken.