NRL’s ‘No Fault’ policy is the right decision

THINGS are about to be ugly off-field for the NRL – almost as ugly as the horror off-season the code has experienced.

It’s exactly what the game needs though.

The pros and cons of the NRL’s new “No Fault” policy are going to dominate the media landscape for the next few days.

It’s a decision that’s going to split the game and its fans right down the middle and I don’t mean in a 50/50 sense

What I mean is there will be no-one sitting on the fence – you will be either for it or against it.

The long and the short of the policy is this – players charged with criminal offences that can result in jail time of 11 years or more will be immediately stood down without consideration.

Dragons star Jack de Belin, who was recently charged with aggravated sexual assault, will be the first player stood down.

The young forward will still be able to train with his club but not play under the new policy.

The Rugby League Players Association and no doubt many fans are strongly against the policy arguing that players deserve the “presumption of innocence” and should be allowed to play on.

And they’re right – from a certain point of view.

However, this decision is a line in the sand for the NRL and it’s the right decision. Why?

Because it’s a decision and a strong one at that - something needed to be done and now we can focus on rebuilding the game.

At yesterday’s press conference ARL Commission chair Peter Beattie and NRL Todd Greenberg said doing nothing would have been an “act of cowardice”.

The NRL will have some tough calls to make soon including how much discretion Greenberg has in regards to punishing lesser offenders and of course what happens to players “found innocent”.

And what’s the worst that can happen after all this – it’s not like the reputation of the game can be damaged anymore.