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And f--- them and pric- Todd Greenberg to.He’s not loved on Reddit or Twitter I can assure you
Shame they didnt come to make dicks of themselves and end up getting arrested
That should bring an end to the rumours about sponsors leaving Saints because of JDB. What a myth that was.NRL should pay Jack de Belin’s wage, says Dragons sponsor
By Danny Weidler
June 6, 2021 — 5.00am
Dragons jersey sponsor Norm Black has called on the NRL to give clubs financial relief and pay banned players directly if they are sidelined under the game’s controversial no-fault stand-down policy.
Black also wants the NRL to reimburse the Dragons for at least some of Jack de Belin’s salary while he was out and says that payments to banned players should not impact on a club’s salary cap from the moment a player is stood down.
Long-awaited return: Jack de Belin leaves the field at Kogarah on Thursday night. Dragons sponsor Norm Black says the NRL should repay the club for at least some of de Belin’s wages while he was stood down. Credit:Getty
“At the very least you would expect a reimbursement to the club from the NRL as a goodwill gesture and to set up a pathway for how they deal with the rule in the future without handicapping the clubs,” Black said.
The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions dropped sexual assault charges against de Belin on May 27, bringing to an end a two-year legal battle.
Speaking after de Belin returned to the NRL on Thursday night at Jubilee Oval, Black hit out at the game’s leaders.
“The rule needs a total rethink from the powerbrokers and I think I can speak with some authority as someone who sponsors clubs,” Black, the founder and managing director of TripADeal, and sponsor of St George Illawarra and Manly, said.
He said the NRL had effectively punished de Belin three times.
An emotional Jack de Belin celebrates his comeback with family.Credit:Getty Images
“The first thing I want to say is that a lot of people have been hurt through this and we can’t forget that,” Black said. “I don’t want to appear heartless when I make this into a matter purely about football, but that’s where I am coming from. The club had to spend a seven-figure amount to keep Jack paid and that’s not fair – especially in this case as there was no rule when his issue arose and then it was brought in.
“That is not fair on the club. They are paying a player to sit around. It’s the NRL’s rule, let them cover the cost. The club is then penalised again by having to put the player in the salary cap. I’m aware the club eventually got partial salary cap dispensation, [but] that only meant the club had to find more money to play another player on top of Jack’s wage. This just adds to the financial punishment. That’s the second punishment and it’s a double hit because you can’t spend that money on another player when you have lost your player.
“In Jack’s case, we lost a genuine star – arguably our best player. As soon as a player is in the situation Jack was he should be off the cap. It was a devastating blow football-wise.
“And the third punishment is to the team and fans for not having a player to play with and cheer for. Having seen what it did to the Dragons club – I’m only speaking on football terms – and to bosses at the club and to the coach of the team, the system as it is now is wrong and unfair on the club, players who lose their teammate and their fans. It has to change. As it is there is a presumption of guilt, not innocence, and that’s wrong.“
The Dragons got full salary cap relief on de Belin’s vastly reduced contract from November until May.
Black also said he had no reason to defend his decision to be de Belin’s personal game sponsor.
“The club needed someone to be Jack’s game-day sponsor and they asked me,” he said. “I don’t see why I would not do it. When they came to me I had no hesitation at all. He is part of the team and should be viewed no differently to any other player taking the field. He has been through a rigorous court process and from now on should only be judged on his performance on the field. That’s my strong belief.”
NRL should pay Jack de Belin’s wage, says Dragons sponsor
Norm Black has called on the NRL to pay banned players directly if they are sidelined under the game’s controversial no-fault stand-down policy.www.smh.com.au
And the NRL's part of their argument to the courts I think, was that they too were potentially going to lose sponsors if they did nothing. I am not sure which ones they were?.
Tiger would be proud of Norm.
I like this forward pack plus bench. I would swap a few players however. I am impressed with the progress Fui has made and would start him in Kerr's place. Also, Poasa over Alvaro anytime, and Amone over Williame just to make sure he gets a lot of FG experience. It is a good pack with its fair share of mongrel.
I agree on Amone, keep giving him a run, we might need him if Hunt plays SOO II and III and to cover for injury / suspension later in the year not to mention replacing Norman.
Bird for Kerr in the second row for me. Bird makes it happen and gives us better shape; I’d keep him there.
He wouldn't be related to Peter Black who is on our board would he ??
He’s not loved on Reddit or Twitter I can assure you
