Jack de Belin is set to issue a new legal challenge to trial the rationality of the leagues "no fault" stand-down policy through a Federal Court appeal, in hope of returning to the Dragons.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald,ย de Belin is set to lodge an appeal on Friday, prior to the expiry of the 21-day deadline.
Justice Melissa Perry ruled in favour of the ARL commission following four days of evidence and the inclusion of over 3,000 documents related to the case.
De Belin's appeal has reportedly caught the NRL off guard, with the appeal set to place the ruling from Justice Perry as a largely monitored issue, with the ex-Blues forward looking to make an immediate return to St George Illawarra despite being charged with sexual assault.
The 28-year-olds hopes of having Justice Perry's decision to be overturned has taken another step after de Belin reportedly looks to gain assistance with new legal representation.
Witnesses won't be able be able to be called and no new evidence will be used for the appeal.
The case will surround de Belin's lawyers as they look to prove the ruling made by Justice Perry was either incorrect through a principle of of the law being incorrectly applied or a ruling that Justice Perry's stance and findings were't sufficiently supported by the evidence given.
The league's induction of the "no fault" stand-down rule has been enforced since the NRL's "train wreck" of an off-season due to player misbehaviour.
The introduction of the rule finds that any player charged with an offence carrying a maximum prison term of 11 years is automatically stood down until their court proceedings are finalised.
De Belin pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault following an incident including himself and a friend on December 9 in Wollongong. De Belin was handed two additional charges related to the matter last month.
ARLC chairman Peter Beattie was a leading advocate for the induction of the stand-down policy, and understands his position could be called into question if it fails to withstand the legal challenge.
โIโm not stupid, I knew my leadership was on the line,โ Beattie said.
The Dragons are currently requesting salary cap relief in hope of fielding a replacement for de Belin, but will not require a an exemption if de Belin's case is successful.
Cross your fingers Priscilla, there is hope yet. ๐
Bring on the REAL court case….
Good for him. I found the previous judgement disgraceful! If that wicked sow only cares about the rights of the organization as if the individual doesn’t have any rights at all, she should come out and say she supports the socialism for the rich that exists in financial circles and therefore, has to preclude herself from presiding over such matters.
Desperate last minute cash grab before facing court on charges that could put him away and end his career.
It’s not a cash grab. He is on full pay. It’s the principle of the NRL behaving above the law and judging him guilty until proven innocent.
Just remember Brett Stewart. Hung, drawn and quartered by the press, the jury took little more than 20 minutes to find him not guilty – a good example of why you shouldn’t rush to judgment. SKD and Ben Teo are other examples. But if he’s found guilty he deserves what’s coming to him.