De Belin drama no excuse
Local Sport
LOOKING INWARD: The Dragons won't let the Jack de Belin saga be a distraction this preseason. Picture: NRL Photos
IT loomed large over their 2019 campaign but the ongoing Jack de Belin saga won't disrupt the Dragons preparations for next season according to star prop Paul Vaughan.
De Belin was stood down in February under the NRL's controversial no-fault stand-down policy after he was charged with aggravated sexual assault.
De Belin vehemently denies his guilt and mounted a challenge to the policy, with the support of the Rugby League Players Association, in the NSW Federal Court.
The court's ruling came down in favour of the NRL two days before the Dragons were smashed 45-12 by the Knights in Mudgee - a point from which they never recovered.
De Belin dropped an appeal against the decision in September after he and co-accused Callan Sinclair's trial date on the charges was brought forward to March 2 next year.
It will come just two weeks before the start of the 2020 season, ensuring the matter will linger around the Dragons preseason, but Vaughan says his side won't be derailed this time around.
"You can't say 'oh we didn't play well because we had this hanging over us. I think that's done now," Vaughan said.
"Best case scenario Jack gets through and, he's one of the best forwards in the game so he'll improve our team, but we can only focus on the task at hand.
"Obviously there's going to be a lot of media around that because that's the way these things are.
"We just need the boys keen to get into preseason and be a hundred per cent focused and mentally strong enough to get through that."
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6464467/de-belin-drama-no-excuse/?cs=302
Local Sport
LOOKING INWARD: The Dragons won't let the Jack de Belin saga be a distraction this preseason. Picture: NRL Photos
IT loomed large over their 2019 campaign but the ongoing Jack de Belin saga won't disrupt the Dragons preparations for next season according to star prop Paul Vaughan.
De Belin was stood down in February under the NRL's controversial no-fault stand-down policy after he was charged with aggravated sexual assault.
De Belin vehemently denies his guilt and mounted a challenge to the policy, with the support of the Rugby League Players Association, in the NSW Federal Court.
The court's ruling came down in favour of the NRL two days before the Dragons were smashed 45-12 by the Knights in Mudgee - a point from which they never recovered.
De Belin dropped an appeal against the decision in September after he and co-accused Callan Sinclair's trial date on the charges was brought forward to March 2 next year.
It will come just two weeks before the start of the 2020 season, ensuring the matter will linger around the Dragons preseason, but Vaughan says his side won't be derailed this time around.
"You can't say 'oh we didn't play well because we had this hanging over us. I think that's done now," Vaughan said.
"Best case scenario Jack gets through and, he's one of the best forwards in the game so he'll improve our team, but we can only focus on the task at hand.
"Obviously there's going to be a lot of media around that because that's the way these things are.
"We just need the boys keen to get into preseason and be a hundred per cent focused and mentally strong enough to get through that."
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6464467/de-belin-drama-no-excuse/?cs=302
