De Belin appeal withdrawal enshrines NRL's no-fault rule: Beattie

In a throwback to his days on the election beat, Beattie used the cut-through phrase multiple times addressing media on Thursday, saying the policy is now firmly in place.

It comes after de Belin dropped his appeal in the Federal Court after he was given a date for his trial on sexual assault charges earlier this week, with proceedings to commence on March 2 next year.

It will come two weeks before the start of the 2020 NRL season, meaning the appeal process would not expedite a return to the field as the criminal process will likely to conclude before, or just after, round one.

Beattie didn't want to speculate on de Belin's reasons for dropping the matter, but said the withdrawal means the contentious no-fault policy is here to stay.

"I've seen some comment today that it's about the timeline of other [court] matters but you'd have to ask Jack," Beattie said.

"Frankly, from our point of view, what's important is the consequence of the appeal being withdrawn. It means the initial Federal Court decision stands.

"It was a very strong decision in favour of the no-fault rule. That rule is now in cement and it will apply to every player. Everyone's got the message, you'd have to be living under a rock on Mars not to have got this message.

"We can draw a line under the court cases, they're over, the no-fault rule is now written in cement and we can move on."

The Rugby League Players Association takes a different view, stating its intention to continue the fight against the policy, saying it undermines the presumption of innocence and runs contrary to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Beattie said he's well aware the policy has its critics, but made no apologies for it's implementation.

"The off-season was a train wreck and any administrator who doesn't tackle that head on shouldn't be there," he said.

"Jack had the right to take this to the courts but there are no winners. We're not out celebrating or any of that sort of thing, we were always about protecting the well-being of rugby league.

"We're compassionate about out players, they're central to the future of the game but we have to take a tough clear stand when it comes to player behaviour and that's what we've done."

The initial Federal Court ruling awarded costs in the NRL's favour, but Beattie said the NRL won't be pursuing that in the interests of de Belin's welfare and the game.

"We're not pursuing any vindictiveness in relation to Jack de Belin, that's why both sides will pay their own costs," Beattie said.

"You've go to be fair and reasonable, which is why we made that decision. This rule wasn't brought in for Jack de Belin, it was brought in to apply for all players forever.

"It wasn't a personal thing. If he is cleared of these charges next year he'll be able to return to rugby league. He continues to be paid, he continues to train and player welfare is important to us.

"He's got a [criminal] matter to deal with next year, that's entirely a matter for him, but we've now set a standard of behaviour."

The Dragons released a statement in response to the development on Thursday, saying the decision was made after a trial date prior to next season was locked in.

"[Jack]De Belin made the decision to discontinue proceedings as a direct result of the determination early this week of the commencement of his criminal trial in the District Court on March 2, 2020, which is prior to the start of the 2020 NRL season, and given the likelihood that the outcome of the Federal Court appeal would not be finalised until after the completion of the Dragons' 2019 season," the statement read.

"De Belin maintains that the NRL's stand down rule operates as an unlawful restraint of trade and is contrary to his presumption of innocence."