The NRL will refuse to change the controversial policy of flawless resignation despite St. George Illawarra player Jack de Belin facing a third year of play due to yet another delay in his rape trial.
De Belin wants to meet with Peter V’landys, head of the Australian Rugby League commission, before Christmas to discuss his NRL resignation.
Steve Gillis, manager of De Belin, told The Daily Telegraph that V’landys should review the controversial shutdown policy that has been imposed on the Dragon Star since early last year.
De Belin became the first NRL player to step down under the no-fault shutdown policy when he was charged with rape.
The decommissioning policy was implemented by former ARLC chairman and V’landys predecessor Peter Beattie.
Since de Belin’s charge carries a long maximum sentence if found guilty, he will be automatically dismissed and not allowed to play in the NRL.
He hasn’t played a game in two years, although he can still train with the dragons.
De Belin and his co-defendant Callan Sinclair pleaded not guilty, but on Monday the three-week trial ended with the jury dismissed as they were unable to pass judgment.
If the prosecution wants to proceed with a new trial, the case cannot be tried again in Wollongong at the earliest in August next year.
That said, even if at some point found not guilty, de Belin would have missed about three seasons of his football career due to the NRL’s shutdown policy.
On Monday evening, NRL chief Andrew Abdo told NewsWire he had no plans to review or change the policy in the face of these events.
“The rule was never introduced or designed to require a player to wait three years to get justice,” said Gillis.
“In due time before Christmas we will have a conversation with the NRL to look at the situation.
“The rule was never introduced or designed to require a player to wait three years to get justice.
“The rule is flawed. It has flaws. It has to be looked at.
“I’m not saying it has to be abolished, but it has to be looked at.”
The dragons also made a statement on Monday.
“The next steps in this matter have yet to be determined,” it says.
De Belin was at the height of his career in 2018 and was a representative player with significant money.
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