St George Illawarra Dragons CEO Brian Johnston and controversial forward Jack de Belin have responded to thew NRL's decision earlier on Thursday to change their policy and stand  down the 27-year old.

"We understand and support the Commission’s desire to improve the standards of player behaviour and propagate the game,” Johnston told the club website.

"This is a very complex and difficult issue that impacts many stakeholders.

"To date we have been guided by the NRL rules and code of conduct, in addition to advice suggesting any action taken by the club could interfere with the judicial process.

"Given the change today, we need time to digest this information and consider the implications for our club.

"Duty of care has always been a priority for us and we have great concern for Jack’s welfare. We will continue to provide him with the necessary support and welfare he needs throughout this legal process.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our stakeholders, including sponsors, members and fans for their support of our process."

De Belin has maintained his innocence in hopes of returning to the field as soon as possible.

"Rugby league has always been a big part of my life, I love the game," he told the club website.

"I am innocent and will vigorously defend the charge against me.

"I want to thank my partner, family, friends, the club, members, sponsors and fans for the support they have given me during this difficult time."

27 COMMENTS

  2. WoodChook February 14, 2019 at 11:41 pm

    Mate to be fair on all the players teams and fans the NRL need to make it clear and make a stand starting season 2020 to all the players if they get themselves into trouble and are hauled before the court system, then they are automatically stood down until there is a verdict. This will stop the new trend of bad behaviour of players. It will be fair for everyone and they will all keep there nose clean if they want a Rugby League career. ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

    I said that 2 weeks ago. Congratulations NRL. This is the best move the NRL has imposed on our game in a hell of a long time. Now all we need is consistency with other stupidity. If a player gets drunk in private and there was no court appearance like Pearce and cops 8 weeks then a player who is a leader of our country like Inglis who gets called before the justice system in our courts after being caught for Drink Driving Mid Range and SPEEDING. needs a penalty of at least 16 weeks if Pearce gets 8. Consistency please NRL. THAT IS ALL WE WANT.💪🐔👍

  3. Consistency? From the NRL?
    You make me laugh WoodChook. 🙂

    Pearce = 8 weeks
    Inglis = 0 Weeks
    Sharks rorting = 0 weeks
    Dylan Walker = 0 weeks

  4. I know mate. The NRL if they were consistent should have given Inglis double for what Pearce did. Walker deserves punishment and should be suspended for at least 8 weeks for having eye witnesses seeing Walker ripping the ponytail of his female partner whist holding their baby and dragging her towards the ground.

    The Sharks will be penalised at least half a million from what I have been hearing.zzzzzzzzzzzz🐓🏆🐓🏆

  5. Yea nice pic. & was probably the exact same face (minus the clothing) that was waiting for that poor chick when she came out of the bathroom that fateful night.

  8. If there is enough in it to go to court, he deserves to rot on the sidelines. I can see this being fast tracked through courts now as he is impacted, no need for his lawyer to draw it out so he can keep playing.

  9. “This is the best move the NRL has imposed on our game in a hell of a long time” ~ Woodchook

    I couldn’t disagree more mate, the decision reached is just about the worst thing they could have done. Sure, in theory it deters players from ‘bringing the game into disrepute’, but the NRL are putting themselves above the law, a position they should not hold. There is no proof that de Belin committed the offence, and yet the NRL have just taken what is likely to be around 2 years from his prime. If Jack’s found innocent, he’ll sue the ass off the NRL, and rightfully so. If he’s not, if I was his lawyer I’d say it was a mistrial, because the NRL have placed bias over what will be the jury by standing him down. The NRL have jumped the gun here, consistency could have been provided in other ways.

  10. Im not saying the 10 weeks is wrong, but it doesn’t make sense to me.
    Right now he hasn’t been convicted, and the severity of his case wouldn’t (I assume) be serious enough for him to fall under the new rules.
    If however he is ultimately found guilty, then I’d argue it’s tear up the contract, probably never to return.

  11. What a load of Rubbish❗❕❗❕❗What a load of Rubbish❗❕❗❕❗What a load of Rubbish❗❕❗❕❗

    The NRL cannot be sued because from today it is plainly stated that this is the policy that all players must abide by. If they do not then they are stood down with pay until the criminal justice system can get to the truth of the matter.

    It is therefore important that players stop ruining our games image and if they put themselves into a 11 year plus possible jail sentence through their own stupid choices then its not the NRL’s fault. Its the player’s fault.

    So you obviously condone a player who goes out and gets drunk with some mate, picks up a girl and does his thing with her leaving her physically bruised and battered claiming she gave him the OK to do what he did to her while his wife is at home mothering his children.

    The bloke made all the wrong choices and stupidity has found him out. Now he must pay the price. This is a lesson to ALL players to make the correct choices in life while you are an NRL player. They are cleaning the image of our game up with all the off field drama that happened this OFF season. This hard line had to be taken and it has to begin with someone. This particular player/players you can include the ex Gridiron player from Parra both deserve to be stood down. In my opinion and in the opinion of 15 other club hierarchies they and I agree 100% with this fantastic decision.💪🐔👍

  12. I’m sorry Woody, but there are more holes in your arguememt than a collinder.
    I don’t disagree entirely, and to some extent don’t even disagree with your conclusion, but the way I see it Sydneyroosta has made some very valid points, and you’ve simply dismissed them with “the player is guilty”, as the foundation of your reply.

  13. For example Woody, let’s forget about morality, and focus purely on the concequences.
    An 11 year plus potential jail sentence isn’t enough to deter a player from committing a crime, but the NRL ban will?

  15. Don’t disagree with you, but it’s what I’ve heard he is getting, also calls after his trial would be finished so if is going not guilty would really be a strange one

  16. It might make sense, sort of.
    I was thinking, and it’s purely guessing, that the NRL was/would be claiming sufficient current evidence to determine his actions, even if not necessarily criminal, are enough to have brought the game into disrepute.
    Then, if found guilty of the actual crime, his case is reassessed, and he is deregistered.

  17. eelsalmighty I never said once he is guilty. But sydneyroosta is clearly saying he is not guilty, which he has no proof of. The NRL has NOW made ALL players aware that if FROM NOW ON they commit crimes or get themselves in a situation to be accused of a serious crime, which all serious crimes are punishable by more than 10 years, then they have lost the right to play NRL. They have a business to run and they do not need bad publicity to scare sponsors away and future TV RIGHTS deals in the future. By standing players down that is the NRL right and can in no way influence the jury as it is NRL policy to stand all accused players down to protect their product. Players need to take responsibility of their own choices and of Rugby Leagues future.

  18. It was meant to be a suggestion date but congratulations to the NRL for acting immediately starting from today the 28th Feb 2019. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

  19. Well done Zero Tackle. The picture you have published has opened up more opportunities for the simpletons in our society to post derogatory and defamatory comments. Is this the only picture of this particular player that you have? Maybe you have already passed judgement on this case. Some of you media people really need to grow up!!

  20. Without being too nit picky, I could argue if you think that a potential penalty is going to act as a deterant, then how would that be effective in cases where there was no wrong doing?
    But that’s not my point, nor do I think Sydneyroosta is claiming anyone (in particular) is innocent as such, but rather it’s about the macro perspective.

  21. Look first off if jack is guilty then good riddance to him but if he is innocent then Sorry woody but the nrl can most definitely be sued for this, it is a new rule that they have conjured up so they can come across as having a reasonable excuse for standing down jack. It goes directly against our system of innocent until proven guilty (I’m not saying he is either innocent or guilty). Even if it was a rule that was put forward a long time ago, it still wouldn’t be fair on players because it is unbelievable how many people out there are just out to get people in trouble, especially sports stars. You can’t say that players shouldn’t put themselves in situations were they can get in trouble because that is a load of crap, When you tell a player that, you are effectively telling them that they can’t go out on the town and have fun with their mates or anything else you can think of.
    This ruling opens up a whole new can of worms, eg what happens to players now when someone comes out and blatantly lies about something that has happened between them? What, they should be suspended until their court case is over aswell? We already have one prime example of this in the past through Brett Stewart.

  22. Come on mate….you can’t say that. If the bloke is guilty….the full force of the law should be enforced. By he’s insisting innocence. Imagine if someone accused you of this and you were innocent…. then it’s plastered all over the news, social media and sites like this ?? It’s a watershed moment no doubt this hard stance !! For me it’s going above the law which is playing with fire.
    But I feel JDB won’t be able to come back from this whether he’s guilty or innocent.

  24. eelsalmighty you can have your opinion, Australia has freedom of choice, however your in the minority. Most people, commentators and footy legends agree with the new policy to stand down players accused of extremely serious crimes.

    All the NRL teams have agreed with the new rules excluding Saints naturally. Mal Meninga is all for it in the rep sides and the NRL in no way or form will ever be sued over this correct decision to clean up our games image.

    Mitch, Players can go party all they like but if they stuff up then tuff luck. The rules are for all to abide by. Any player who puts himself into a position to be accused of extremely serious crime is an idiot. Especially now after these new rules are permanently in place. Don’t be a fool and think to go out on the town and have fun is risking losing your career. When you as a fan go out on the town do you put yourself into an extremely serious crime situation❔❓❔❓😵 That is a silly comment mate.

  25. He got nine weeks so far for getting his lady to twist the truth in such a manner others would call it a lie. Once he is found guilty for attacking a woman holding a baby. Then perhaps he may play his PlayStation games in England. Depends if the super league want another woman basher😁🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎱🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

  27. YES he is, only fools can not accept facts. Do your self a favour and start listening to the TV and radio talk back shows to gage a reading on how out of touch you are with reality.💪🐔👍

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