D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

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D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by Beaussie »

How would you like the NRL to respond?
D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league
By Adrian Proszenko
February 23, 2019

It is shaping as the 24 hours that will set the tone for a new era in rugby league.

The Australian Rugby League Commission will convene on Thursday to make a call on whether to stand down players charged with serious crimes, a decision expected to have an impact on the immediate playing future of Jack de Belin.

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Uncertain future: Jack de Belin will soon learn his fate.CREDIT:ADAM MCLEAN

The commission will also make its final determinations on more than half-a-dozen integrity unit investigations, which the NRL is expected to announce as soon as Friday. Those decisions will have immediate ramifications for a number of players and clubs, while also making a clear statement on how future incidents will be dealt with.

ARLC chairman Peter Beattie is driving the push towards standing down players charged with serious criminal offences. The former Queensland premier has been lobbying the commissioners to back his hardline stance and is believed to have the required numbers. However, his position could become untenable if his campaigning, much of it done in the public domain, comes to nought.

The decisions made at Thursday’s gathering will close the case files on a range of outstanding integrity matters including the salary cap investigation into Cronulla, the Dylan Napa sex tapes, the futures of Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe and former Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan, and whether a handful of players on domestic violence charges will be forced to stand down until their court cases are finalised.

But by far the most complex and polarising issue surrounds the de Belin matter. The St George Illawarra forward has pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated sexual assault and the Dragons are quietly standing by de Belin while the criminal proceedings play out.

A change towards the ‘stand down’ policy could impact de Belin in that, under the existing guidelines, the NRL’s chief executive and chief operating officers have the discretion to sideline players who have pleaded not guilty to charges. However, the Herald understands that this discretionary power could be scrapped altogether as part of the new policy shake-up, although perhaps not before it is used in the de Belin case.

The public debate has been fierce and already there are suggestions some of the commentary has crossed the line. There is already the threat of legal action after de Belin’s lawyers issued one major media outlet a concerns notice following some of its coverage.

"Many of the publications in the last week or so have ignored the fundamental protection that all members of any civilised society share – that is, the presumption of innocence to any allegation of criminal wrongdoing," said David Campbell SC, a member of the legal team acting for de Belin.

"People forget that that is a presumption that can only be displaced by a jury after it has heard all of the evidence that relates to it.

"To do what some sections of the media have been doing violates that principle and has the capacity to undermine the effectiveness of the criminal process in circumstances where the central figures involved are powerless to speak out until a matter is presented before a jury."

In club land, the sentiment appears to have turned in favour of standing down players, particularly if they remain on full pay and if the affected team is given salary cap relief to replace the suspended player. While several club chairs and chief executives have aired that view, the players, led by their union, believe any change to the status quo reverses the ‘presumption of innocence’ assumption.

Those in favour of the existing rules point to the Brett Stewart case. The former Manly fullback was suspended for four matches and his club fined $100,000 for the boozy season launch that preceded an alleged sexual assault. Stewart was subsequently acquitted.

"I think you are only guilty when you are proven guilty when you go to court," said former Manly CEO Graham Lowe, in charge of the club while Stewart’s matter was before the courts.

"What happened to Brett Stewart is a terrible blight on what can happen if an administration gets it wrong.

"You just have to feel extremely sorry for Brett Stewart in that case."

Lowe has a different take on how such incidents should be handled from now on. Rather than making it the responsibility of the NRL, Lowe urged the clubs to make the difficult calls.

The first club that puts its hand up and makes a mark is going to be the club that will change the history of the game.
Graham Lowe

"It’s about time the clubs stopped hiding behind the skirts of the NRL and made the tough decisions," Lowe said.

"Too many of the clubs try to let the player play when human decency and behaviour dictates that they shouldn’t.

"They want the NRL to make the call for them. I think clubs are copping out. The clubs have got to be in total control of player – if their player is on the wrong track, they should take the appropriate steps and stand them down.

"The first club that puts its hand up and makes a mark is going to be the club that will change the history of the game."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/d-day- ... 50zsj.html
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Re: D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by AFLcrap1 »

We all ready have a few threads on payer behaviour .
Why do you keep making new ones .
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Re: D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by notaleaguefan »

We have several threads about aflx, aflw and the nrlol club challenge made buy you basement dwelling conspiracy loons!

Now when it doesn’t suit 🚽er you have a cry about it!
Usual hypocrisy from you
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Re: D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by SportCapital »

AFLcrap1 wrote: Sun Feb 24, 2019 9:43 am
We all ready have a few threads on payer behaviour .
Why do you keep making new ones .
Just point out the player behaviour bit... Will ya....

"D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league"
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Re: D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by notaleaguefan »

By seasons end the clubs will be raiding these mini casino league clubs for Barry the hasbeen for players as all the players will have been de registered due to some assault or fiddling with an animal charge
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Re: D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by leeroy*NRL* »

Nrlolol wrote: Mon Feb 25, 2019 12:25 am
By seasons end the clubs will be raiding these mini casino league clubs for Barry the hasbeen or Dazza the never was been for players as all the players will have been de registered due to some assault or fiddling with an animal charge
LIC

I made a Thread especially for you.. for MINI CASINOS>> :)))
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Re: D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by notaleaguefan »

leeroy*NRL* wrote: Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:35 am
Nrlolol wrote: Mon Feb 25, 2019 12:25 am
By seasons end the clubs will be raiding these mini casino league clubs for Barry the hasbeen or Dazza the never was been for players as all the players will have been de registered due to some assault or fiddling with an animal charge
LIC

I made a Thread especially for you.. for MINI CASINOS>> :)))
Isn’t those mini casinos aka their league clubs where you aparently find league fans! :wave:

Playing the slots or at the sports bar telling stories about back in the day they could have been a first grade player!

You league loonies really need to leave the safety compound of the bedroom of your parents house and head out in to the real world and socialise a bit! :wave:
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Re: D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by leeroy*NRL* »

Nrlolol wrote: Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:44 am
leeroy*NRL* wrote: Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:35 am
Nrlolol wrote: Mon Feb 25, 2019 12:25 am
By seasons end the clubs will be raiding these mini casino league clubs for Barry the hasbeen or Dazza the never was been for players as all the players will have been de registered due to some assault or fiddling with an animal charge
LIC

I made a Thread especially for you.. for MINI CASINOS>> :)))
Isn’t those mini casinos aka their league clubs where you aparently find league fans! :wave:

Playing the slots or at the sports bar telling stories about back in the day they could have been a first grade player!

You league loonies really need to leave the safety compound of the bedroom of your parents house and head out in to the real world and socialise a bit! :wave:
#WARNING#
any more word or rants about #CASINOS# i see over the next 7 days. will result in a few days ban.
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Re: D-Day nears: The 24 hours that will shape the future of rugby league

Post by leeroy*NRL* »

Nrlolol wrote: Mon Feb 25, 2019 12:25 am
By seasons end the clubs will be raiding these mini casino league clubs for Barry the hasbeen or Dazza the never was been for players as all the players will have been de registered due to some assault or fiddling with an animal charge
Your on a tightrope..

This post is ABSOLUTE B.S

anything that is close to marginal you are suspended.
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