JackDog
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https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...r/news-story/6328d9be71d2e4959fd9e90185498952
NRL clubs who have players facing serious criminal charges are set to receive salary cap relief under a new plan that is designed to combat the spate of off-field atrocities.
The Daily Telegraph revealed on Monday that St George Illawarra are in line to be offered $600,000 in cap relief if Jack de Belin is stood down as he fights sexual assault charges.
The Australian Rugby League Commission is due to meet on Thursday where the fate of de Belin and Manly’s Dylan Walker, who is facing domestic violence charges, will be decided.
It’s likely that de Belin and Walker will be stood down on full pay until a verdict is reached in their court cases, and the NRL doesn’t want the clubs and their fans to be penalised.
Clubs had previously been resistant to the idea of standing down players due to the effect it would have on their rosters, however The Daily Telegraph claimed last week that up to nine club chairmen believes the spate of negative headlines calls for a dramatic re-think.
However, the Roosters’ influential chairman Nick Politis has said: “The problem is you are penalising the club and the fans more than the player. That’s not fair on the clubs.”
And it appears that message had been heard loud and clear by NRL independent commission chairman Peter Beattie.
“This element of the debate will be discussed on Thursday,” Beattie said. “We’ve got to be fair to the clubs if the rules are going to be changed.”
The Rugby League Players Association has come out strongly against the proposed move to stand down players, arguing their careers are short and that it could undermine their defence.
Walker is due in court on Tuesday to face assault charges from an alleged domestic incident involving his partner, while de Belin has pleaded not guilty to the aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in Wollongong last year.
The biggest problem facing the Dragons and Sea Eagles is finding replacement players of similar ability to de Belin and Walker this close to the start of the new season, irrespective of the cap relief offered to them.
The Telegraph said the likes of Brad Takairangi, Sam Kasiano, Ava Seumanufagai, Sam McKendry, Ethan Lowe, Jason Bukuya, Patrick Kaufusi, Josh Dugan, Kurt Capewell, Chris McQueen and Lloyd Perrett will come into the frame if the pair are stood down. But apart from Dugan, none of these players have the required representative pedigree desired.
There are also logistical issues surrounding how the cap relief can be used.
One senior club official described the situation as a “minefield” to The Daily Telegraph.
Clubs want to know whether they would be told to spend the money immediately or have permission to stockpile it for a big name the following year.
“We would want to know whether we can spend it the following season if we can’t utilise it this season,” said one NRL club official. “You don’t want to just go out and there and say: “There’s a player, let’s give him ‘x amount’ because we have the money.
“Certainly from our club’s perspective, we want to hold it and wait for the right person to come along. There can’t be a time limit on the money. If they did put a limit on it, it would be like giving us a ticket we can’t use.”
Another official said: “What about a player who agrees to come but then wants to sign for another year or two? Who knows by then though whether the player stood down may be available to return and the salary cap for the following year would more than likely be finalised.”
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What Uncle Nick wants, Uncle Nick gets...
Imagine if the case falls through in 2 months (new evidence, whatever), what happens to the new recruit when the innocent player comes back? "sorry, we can't have you in FG anymore, you can either go to ISP or go elsewhere. But thanks for helping out."
Might work if the offending players are stood down for the season from the start (as unfair as that is if they are innocent).
Better to allow the club to use another ISP player while the offending player is stood down. It won't be the same class of player, but is more workable.
NRL clubs who have players facing serious criminal charges are set to receive salary cap relief under a new plan that is designed to combat the spate of off-field atrocities.
The Daily Telegraph revealed on Monday that St George Illawarra are in line to be offered $600,000 in cap relief if Jack de Belin is stood down as he fights sexual assault charges.
The Australian Rugby League Commission is due to meet on Thursday where the fate of de Belin and Manly’s Dylan Walker, who is facing domestic violence charges, will be decided.
It’s likely that de Belin and Walker will be stood down on full pay until a verdict is reached in their court cases, and the NRL doesn’t want the clubs and their fans to be penalised.
Clubs had previously been resistant to the idea of standing down players due to the effect it would have on their rosters, however The Daily Telegraph claimed last week that up to nine club chairmen believes the spate of negative headlines calls for a dramatic re-think.
However, the Roosters’ influential chairman Nick Politis has said: “The problem is you are penalising the club and the fans more than the player. That’s not fair on the clubs.”
And it appears that message had been heard loud and clear by NRL independent commission chairman Peter Beattie.
“This element of the debate will be discussed on Thursday,” Beattie said. “We’ve got to be fair to the clubs if the rules are going to be changed.”
The Rugby League Players Association has come out strongly against the proposed move to stand down players, arguing their careers are short and that it could undermine their defence.
Walker is due in court on Tuesday to face assault charges from an alleged domestic incident involving his partner, while de Belin has pleaded not guilty to the aggravated sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in Wollongong last year.
The biggest problem facing the Dragons and Sea Eagles is finding replacement players of similar ability to de Belin and Walker this close to the start of the new season, irrespective of the cap relief offered to them.
The Telegraph said the likes of Brad Takairangi, Sam Kasiano, Ava Seumanufagai, Sam McKendry, Ethan Lowe, Jason Bukuya, Patrick Kaufusi, Josh Dugan, Kurt Capewell, Chris McQueen and Lloyd Perrett will come into the frame if the pair are stood down. But apart from Dugan, none of these players have the required representative pedigree desired.
There are also logistical issues surrounding how the cap relief can be used.
One senior club official described the situation as a “minefield” to The Daily Telegraph.
Clubs want to know whether they would be told to spend the money immediately or have permission to stockpile it for a big name the following year.
“We would want to know whether we can spend it the following season if we can’t utilise it this season,” said one NRL club official. “You don’t want to just go out and there and say: “There’s a player, let’s give him ‘x amount’ because we have the money.
“Certainly from our club’s perspective, we want to hold it and wait for the right person to come along. There can’t be a time limit on the money. If they did put a limit on it, it would be like giving us a ticket we can’t use.”
Another official said: “What about a player who agrees to come but then wants to sign for another year or two? Who knows by then though whether the player stood down may be available to return and the salary cap for the following year would more than likely be finalised.”
---------------------------------
What Uncle Nick wants, Uncle Nick gets...
Imagine if the case falls through in 2 months (new evidence, whatever), what happens to the new recruit when the innocent player comes back? "sorry, we can't have you in FG anymore, you can either go to ISP or go elsewhere. But thanks for helping out."
Might work if the offending players are stood down for the season from the start (as unfair as that is if they are innocent).
Better to allow the club to use another ISP player while the offending player is stood down. It won't be the same class of player, but is more workable.