The legal team of suspended Dragon Jack de Belin will deny any claims made by the NRL, who stated that the club will suffer financially if the 28-year-old returns to St Geoge Illawarra this season, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
De Belin was stood down indefinitely by the league after he pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated sexual assault.
The decision was made after the NRL introduced a stand-down policy for players under trial due to off-field incidents, forcing them to miss games until their court case is complete.
His lawyers will counter the argument surrounding his return to the game, and what it will do for the league, demanding documents from the club proving the increased merchandise sales by collecting various revenue related documents to build their case.
The legal team involved have subpoenaed the Dragons, requesting information on club memberships, sponsorship income, jersey and total ticket sales as they prepare for a legal battle with the NRL.
The case will return to the Federal Court on April 15, with the verdict to be heard for the futures of both Manyle centre Dylan Walker and Panthers playmaker Tyrone May.
According the the Sydney Morning Herald, this NRL off-season and the incidents which occurred cost the league up to $10 million in revenue.
Chief commercial officer of the NRL Andrew Abdo will provide an affidavit to prove the total financial damage that has already affected the game, and what may affect the future of the competition - arguing that the new policy protects reputation and league sponsors.
St George Illawarra have struggled since the absence of de Belin, losing their opening two matches before narrowly defeating the Broncos in a one-point game.
The Red V prop has continued to train with the club, and will have his future decided in court on Monday the 15th of April.
I am surprised that DeBelin is pursuing this. It must be costing him a fair packet to mount this challenge and he must know that winning it is by no means a foregone conclusion.
Even if NRL revenues do not show an actual loss due to DeBelin’s arrest, there can be no denying that it has the potential to do so and that it is certainly bad for public relations. The very fact that his case has been in the media supports that view. Who is to say what impact all that negative publicity has had on the game. Average gates might be up but maybe they would have been up even more if…..
Then there is DeBelin himself, what has he actually lost as a result of being stood down ? He is still getting paid, he is still allowed to go to work (train) he is just not being allowed to be displayed before the public by playing. His case hasn’t been prejudged by the NRL since it is the police’s decision to prosecute that triggers the No Fault Policy. The Loss of any possible rep income is speculative at best and potential loss of third party payments is more likely to have been triggered by the prosecution than by the stand down.
So what does he hope to gain ? I am totally perplexed by that one.
Innocent until PROVEN OTHERWISE, hope JDB rips them to pieces, the bloke who presided over the Dogs betting scandal (which cost a life) now wants to play judge, amateur hour since he became ceo , good onya Jack my thoughts are with you and every innocent player ever accused of something they never did ! Proven they never did
Sorry but this is absolute BS
Innocent until proven otherwise, what has the NRL done that breaks that ? Perhaps the police shouldn’t be allowed to prosecute someone because that affects their presumption of innocence ? The NRL is taking action on anyone accused of a major crime – no presumption there – he has been accused of a major crime. The NRL has the right to protect their business which is what they are doing here. This presumption of innocence tack is a grossly misunderstood term in that applies to court proceedings only.
I do hope that Jack is innocent and that he beats the charge but on this, he is on a hiding to nothing.
Thanks judge Judy , your obviously privy to info no one else is, get over yourself, no employer, no company has the right to sack an innocent person. Tell you who’s brought the game into disrepute, the same person who swept the bulldogs betting scandal under the carpet that’s who,
I’m entitled to my opinion you will never ever alter this, everyone has the right to innocence until proven otherwise unfortunately that includes you, have a read of yesterday’s paper and see for yourself the hideous destruction false allegations can cause before you flap your gums like some kind of higher being