‘Completely stupid’ ban on female reporters at de Belin tell-all interview angers NRL chief – as he demands answers from Dragons over hand-picking of journos
- Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys wants answers
- Follows NRL club St George Illawarra Dragons hosting closed media session
- Forward Jack de Belin, 31, broke his silence after three years out of the sport
- Was stood down due to sexual assault charges, interview was highly anticipated
- Only four journalists were invited for interview – and no women
The banning of female rugby league reporters from Jack de Belin’s tell-all interview earlier this month has infuriated NRL supremo Peter V’landys.
St George Illawarra lock forward de Belin fronted the media earlier in March as he spoke about his return to the game after missing two full seasons out of the sport as he faced two trials on sexual assault charges.
It proved to be a highly emotional interview, where the 31-year-old broke down as he recalled how the legal ordeal took a toll personally and with his family.
It has since emerged that only four reporters were invited by the Dragons media department to attend the closed media session at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium – and none were women.
That angered V’Landys, who asked the Dragons to justify their handling of the matter.
The St George-Illawarra Dragons have been issued a ‘please explain’ over a recent interview from Jack de Belin (pictured) about his rape charges that were dismissed last year
It has since emerged the club did not send an open invite to accredited media and there were no female journalists present at the de Belin interview – ARLC Peter V’Landys is said to be seething
‘We want as many women in the game, and they should always feel comfortable and encouraged,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘They should just have a standard policy to invite all journalists to media conferences and, in particular, they should encourage and support female journalists.
‘Anything to the contrary would be completely stupid. I hope the St George club have learnt from this.’
Dragons chairman Craig Young admitted the hand-picked coterie of journalists was embarrassing for the club and that press conferences ‘should be open to whoever wants to attend.’
Young was reportedly unaware of the restrictions on the de Belin interview before it aired on 9News as well as in various newspapers.
Following two District Court trials which resulted in hung juries, de Belin was cleared to play last season after three years on the sidelines as part of the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy.
‘Being charged and arrested was a dark time,’ he said.
‘(Although) I never once thought about spending time behind bars. It just wasn’t a possibility in my mind.
‘I never really took any interest in that whole situation. I don’t know if it was my ego or just blind optimism, but I never once thought of ever going to jail.
‘The people who know me and who are in my inner circle know for a fact I’d never do anything like what I’ve been accused of.
‘I can hold my head high.’
The former NSW Blues representative later raised eyebrows when he added he ‘wasn’t sorry’ for what allegedly unfolded with the 19-year-old woman in Wollongong in December 2018.
During the interview where four journalists were handpicked by the Dragons, de Belin once against pleaded his innocence and insisted he ‘didn’t do the wrong thing’
‘I’ve always stated my innocence from the get-go and that’s what gave me my strength, my innocence and knowing I didn’t do the wrong thing,’ he said.
‘The charges have been dismissed and dropped. As I’ve said, I’ve stated my innocence from the get-go and I stand by that.’
He also stated he is loving life as a father for his two young girls.
‘It’s one of the most amazing things to become a father,’ de Belin said.
‘I just love them so much. Being there, in their lives and being a good role model as a father is something I’m definitely striving to do.’