Jack DeBelin interview

[redv13]

My 2 cents:

1. I believe the stand down policy is a good rule
2. I don't think the NRL should have implemented it and forced it 100% in a retrospective manner on JDB and the club AFTER the incident occurred and was in progress. I think it would have benefited from a transition period where some leniency was applied
3. I believe the leniency was applied by the granting of a pro-rated amount. This was an after though though and should have been applied for the full year.
4. In the end, the contract is between the club and JDB. As others have said, the club needed to make a decision on whether to challenge the ongoing payments with JDB or to continue to pay him throughout the whole thing. They chose the latter.
5. As a result, this decision has hindered both the club and consequently the fans for the last couple of years.

So basically, I don't see it as the responsibility for the NRL to compensate a club going forward if a player is forced to stand down. It should be the clubs responsibility to come to some agreement between them and the player.

I do think though that the NRL should have compensated us from the get go given the rule was applied for the first time after the incident happened and then was applied retrospectively. There wasn't an opportunity for the club to adjust early enough. We did get some compensation for part of the first year, but it should have been applied for the full year. As for the second year, I think it is fair enough that the club should be required to come to an agreement with the player.

Personally I think the club f**ked themselves big time by stretching it out and obviously thinking Jack would be able to return to the field in 2019 as referenced by the wise one over and over. Then shock horror they had a few $$ left in the kitty and picked up a busted Kaufusi from Melb who was barely 1st grade material. Anyway I’ll be glad when this shit show is over and everyone can move forward in 2021

 

[possm]

Personally I think the club f**ked themselves big time by stretching it out and obviously thinking Jack would be able to return to the field in 2019 as referenced by the wise one over and over. Then shock horror they had a few $$ left in the kitty and picked up a busted Kaufusi from Melb who was barely 1st grade material. Anyway I’ll be glad when this shit show is over and everyone can move forward in 2021

I still say that the NRL introduced this rule rightly or wrongly and should have immediately and automatically compensated the Dragons by moving De Belin from the Dragons salary cap and recrediting the approx 600k to the cap total.

If the NRL did this we could have recruited a marquee lock on a two or 3 year deal and worried about the effect on the our salary cap when or if De Belin returns. As it turns out there would have been no real problem mainly because more than enough players have left the club including Graham, Frizell, Aitken and Lafai.

 

[SnowDragon]

Personally I think the club f**ked themselves big time by stretching it out and obviously thinking Jack would be able to return to the field in 2019 as referenced by the wise one over and over. Then shock horror they had a few $$ left in the kitty and picked up a busted Kaufusi from Melb who was barely 1st grade material. Anyway I’ll be glad when this shit show is over and everyone can move forward in 2021

In part your right, but what if they had gone the other way and charges were dropped?

it’s a crappy situation, with no good solution. However, I find it hard to accept that the club takes all the negatives rather than the NRL who retroactively altered the rules.

 

[redv13]

In part your right, but what if they had gone the other way and charges were dropped?

it’s a crappy situation, with no good solution. However, I find it hard to accept that the club takes all the negatives rather than the NRL who retroactively altered the rules.

Yeah your right. The whole situation has been poorly handled by the NRL, the club, Jack and everyone else who had their hand in the cookie jar.

 

[Gardenia]

I have some questions:
If the NRL, wanting to introduce this policy, would have sat down with the Dragons and De Belin to work out a way that all were content and thus reducing the media hype over this matter, with such an agreement, would all entities be better off including the game of NRL itself?

I'd see such an agreement including:

• A ban on any comment to the media.
• The NRL taking full financial and medical responsibility by having the contract re-assigned from the Dragons to the NRL.
• The De Belin contract no longer being held on the Dragons salary cap.
• De Belin being re-assured that his salary will be paid until the end of the contract or by agreement a termination fee be paid immediately and De Belin's right to sign a new contract be suspended until the court case is determined.

Perfect

 

[redandwhite4evr]

I still say that the NRL introduced this rule rightly or wrongly and should have immediately and automatically compensated the Dragons by moving De Belin from the Dragons salary cap and recrediting the approx 600k to the cap total.

If the NRL did this we could have recruited a marquee lock on a two or 3 year deal and worried about the effect on the our salary cap when or if De Belin returns. As it turns out there would have been no real problem mainly because more than enough players have left the club including Graham, Frizell, Aitken and Lafai.

Absolutely right- a rule that was designed to protect the NRL's image had the unintended but easily foreseen consequence of punishing the club and its supporters for two seasons. The Board stands condemned for leaving it to De Belin to fight it in the courts on the unwinnable restraint of trade argument.

 

[muzby]

Absolutely right- a rule that was designed to protect the NRL's image had the unintended but easily foreseen consequence of punishing the club and its supporters for two seasons. The Board stands condemned for leaving it to De Belin to fight it in the courts on the unwinnable restraint of trade argument.

I’m not sure our “punishment” is the most important issue right now..

And let’s wait for the outcome of Jack’s current court case before we start thinking about his next one..

 

[blacksafake]

1. If JDB had of gone home we wouldn't be discussing any of it.
2. Far too many forgetting that the legal matter relating to this is a police & DPP action and governed by laws surrounding what JDB can and cannot do as well as say or cannot say and that has nothing to do with the NRL.
3. Your notion of the NRL sitting down discussing with JDB what would be the right way to handle it is absurd as JDB is the very catalyst for the action the NRL undertook. That would be like the prosecution sitting down with him to see what he thinks about their case.
4. As expertly pointed out by Benny V our club had every opportunity to get cap relief and another player but the club stupidly hedged their bets and thought they way they saw things would come to fruition and that didn't happen so they f**ked it up completely and we have suffered for 2 years as a result and that could even be 3 years for all we know.

Your point 1 OT is exactly spot on & where all this mess should have been averted.

 

[Como Connection]

Regardless of the verdict I’ll never cheer or support him again, he’s a stain on the club and the game imo.

I can’t imagine not supporting the Dragons after over 50 years, but if he plays for us again I honestly don’t know.

Don’t care what people like to do in the bedroom but I do care about player behaviour from the club and game I proudly support and literally wear on my sleeve.

I’m not blaming the club or game for his behaviour but I don’t think I can support either if he beats the charges (or is proven completely innocent - with vexatious or false allegations) and plays for us again.

His behaviour was completely unacceptable for a high profile professional and role model.

If he beats the charges good luck to him in the future, hope he gets his shit together but he’s done for me as someone I will support and I hope the club and game piss him off.

There’s been almost nothing on young Sailor but FMD.

Dragons - please be a club I can continue to support because I’ll be devastated if I can’t support you but I’m close now.

Piss him off now.

With you 100%.
CC

 

[blue bags]

Dragons capt disgusted by de Belin report
By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
FROM JUNE, 2020
Captain Cameron McInnes says he is disgusted by a claim that St George Illawarra players are divided over Jack de Belin's presence at training.

McInnes said he was not surprised by the "media pile on" after his team slumped to a 0-4 NRL season start that prompted the Dragons board to discuss coach Paul McGregor's future this week.

But he was livid over radio commentator Ray Hadley's suggestion this week that de Belin had caused a rift in the playing ranks, saying some critics like to "kick a dog when they are down".

De Belin has been suspended from playing under the "no-fault stand-down" policy but continues to train with the Dragons as he awaits a June 22 court hearing after being charged with aggravated sexual assault in 2018.

"It is pretty insulting. As a playing group we are pretty pissed off about that," McInnes said of the claim.

"For somebody who has absolutely no knowledge of what actually happens in here ... to come out with something like that and heap more pressure on somebody who has already gone through a lot, to be honest is pretty disgusting.

"It shows the lengths people will go to almost kick a dog when they are down."

McInnes said he had no idea how ex-NSW star de Belin's presence could be seen as a distraction for his players.

"Every week when a team is picked there are guys on the cusp who miss out," he said.

"They go into the second team and their job is to prepare the first grade team to play that weekend.

"We have Jack, who last time he played was one of the best forwards in the game - each week, he is helping us to prepare.

"Anybody who wants to use that as a distraction is just looking for excuses."

McInnes said he understood the criticism aimed at his underperforming side but claimed the cause of their problems was simple - their poor completion rates.

"Everyone has got a theory on why we aren't performing. That's rugby league - you've got to win and if you don't questions are asked, we get that," he said.

"When I say I am disgusted by the article I am not shocked by it.

"The more media, the more shows there are, the more analysis there is, the more overthinking there is.

"But I am telling you right now, if we get our completion rate sorted it will be a different ball game out there."

McInnes said his players were right behind McGregor who earned a reprieve when the board stuck with him on Tuesday although the coach reportedly has four games to prove his worth.

"Now it is up to us players to do our bit and turn this around," he said.


Dragons capt disgusted by de Belin report

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-8407551/Players-McGregor-respect-Daley.html

 

[Gareth67]

Dragons capt disgusted by de Belin report
By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

Captain Cameron McInnes says he is disgusted by a claim that St George Illawarra players are divided over Jack de Belin's presence at training.

McInnes said he was not surprised by the "media pile on" after his team slumped to a 0-4 NRL season start that prompted the Dragons board to discuss coach Paul McGregor's future this week.

But he was livid over radio commentator Ray Hadley's suggestion this week that de Belin had caused a rift in the playing ranks, saying some critics like to "kick a dog when they are down".

De Belin has been suspended from playing under the "no-fault stand-down" policy but continues to train with the Dragons as he awaits a June 22 court hearing after being charged with aggravated sexual assault in 2018.

"It is pretty insulting. As a playing group we are pretty pissed off about that," McInnes said of the claim.

"For somebody who has absolutely no knowledge of what actually happens in here ... to come out with something like that and heap more pressure on somebody who has already gone through a lot, to be honest is pretty disgusting.

"It shows the lengths people will go to almost kick a dog when they are down."

McInnes said he had no idea how ex-NSW star de Belin's presence could be seen as a distraction for his players.

"Every week when a team is picked there are guys on the cusp who miss out," he said.

"They go into the second team and their job is to prepare the first grade team to play that weekend.

"We have Jack, who last time he played was one of the best forwards in the game - each week, he is helping us to prepare.

"Anybody who wants to use that as a distraction is just looking for excuses."

McInnes said he understood the criticism aimed at his underperforming side but claimed the cause of their problems was simple - their poor completion rates.

"Everyone has got a theory on why we aren't performing. That's rugby league - you've got to win and if you don't questions are asked, we get that," he said.

"When I say I am disgusted by the article I am not shocked by it.

"The more media, the more shows there are, the more analysis there is, the more overthinking there is.

"But I am telling you right now, if we get our completion rate sorted it will be a different ball game out there."

McInnes said his players were right behind McGregor who earned a reprieve when the board stuck with him on Tuesday although the coach reportedly has four games to prove his worth.

"Now it is up to us players to do our bit and turn this around," he said.


Dragons capt disgusted by de Belin report

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-8407551/Players-McGregor-respect-Daley.html

It was good to see that Cam stuck up for the Dragon team at the time and Ray Hadley just loves injecting maggots into apples , just to watch the whole barrel go rotten . Still imo JDB should had the good sense to stand himself down or the club itself restrict him from training with the team .

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

If we signed a marque $550k pa player to replace JDB for 2020, stopped paying JDB........but then JDB was found not guilty at the beginning of 2020 how would we have fit both players in the sal cap ?

JDB had a contract for 2020

we were not going to win either way

 

[muzby]

I’m not sure if it’s ironic or sad that we’re debating the fairest way to have the no-fault stand down policy work rather than debating why the NRL had to introduce it in the first place..

 

[Gardenia]

I’m not sure our “punishment” is the most important issue right now..

And let’s wait for the outcome of Jack’s current court case before we start thinking about his next one..

No it’s not but also why should the club or fans be punished. It’s not just 2 years it will have a ripple on effect and people could lose jobs affecting families and their children . It could have been handled a lot better . The court case is actually none of our/my business and the courts will handle that. Sadly this is one of thousands of these cases. What is more the concern is the cases that don’t go to court. And it’s all just a sign of how shit society is. The club is our business .

 

[Gardenia]

Be

I’m not sure if it’s ironic or sad that we’re debating the fairest way to have the no-fault stand down policy work rather than debating why the NRL had to introduce it in the first place..

Because we don’t have a problem with the stand down rule itself it had to happen .

 

[muzby]

No it’s not but also why should the club or fans be punished.

But we’re not being punished.

Are we?

We’re not the ones on trial facing a long jail term.

We’re not the ones making allegations of something that can ruin a life.

We had a shit season.

One player won’t change that.

How are we being “punished”?

 

[muzby]

Be

Because we don’t have a problem with the stand down rule itself it had to happen .

So why aren’t we working out solutions to why the policy shouldn’t even be in existence?

 

[Gardenia]

But we’re not being punished.

Are we?

We’re not the ones on trial facing a long jail term.

We’re not the ones making allegations of something that can ruin a life.

We had a shit season.

One player won’t change that.

How are we being “punished”?

Seperate issues mate
The trial is one issue
The shit 2 seasons is another
They are seperate issues can’t mesh them or compare them mate

 

[muzby]

Seperate issues mate
The trial is one issue
The shit 2 seasons is another
They are seperate issues can’t mesh them or compare them mate

So how exactly are we as fans being “punished” then?

 

[Gardenia]

So why aren’t we working out solutions to why the policy shouldn’t even be in existence?[/QUOTE

How do you know they are not