PLAYER PUNISHMENTS: WHERE RUGBY LEAGUE'S POWERBROKERS STAND
* "Under our current policy, we've made it clear these are matters for the courts. And the NRL is very strong on applying natural justice." - NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg with the game's official line.
* "The ARLC and NRL are not sitting on our hands. In light of recent events, we are reviewing the game's current disciplinary policy." ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie in revealing he was seeking legal advice on whether players could be stood down.
* "I'm not getting into the Jack de Belin thing; that's a matter for us to discuss as a Commission ... But if I was chairman of the NRL - which I am - and I was involved in a matter like this - which I wouldn't be, but if I was - I would stand down." - Beattie, this time on Ten News.
* "The game can't be judge, jury and executioner before the criminal process is complete." - Rugby League Players' Association boss Ian Prendergast, urging the NRL not to stand players down before the court process is complete.
* "Aside from various contractual and welfare obligations, advice suggests any action taken by the club may have significant ramifications and may interfere with the fairness of the judicial process." - St George Illawarra chief executive Brian Johnston in his only statement to News Corp on the De Belin situation.
* "The whole thing in our country is innocent until proven guilty. Just because he's a footballer doesn't mean he loses that right." - De Belin's NSW teammate and RLPA board member James Maloney.
* "We appear to be morally tone deaf as an organisation. We're repeatedly making life tough for ourselves. I'm saying this as someone from a club that has had its own issues but it's time for the governing body to act and act quickly." - Melbourne chairman Bart Campbell in a memo to other club bosses obtained by the Daily Telegraph.
* "Unequivocally for us, given all the information now out there, the seriousness of these situations and the reaction around them, we would stand the player down." - Newcastle chief executive Phil Garnder to the Newcastle Herald on if one of his players were facing charges of violence against a woman.
* "It's not as simple as there is a trial under way, these people are just stood aside. Were they stood aside, there are legal implications both in the court system and at NRL level. Anyone in a high-profile role should stand themselves down in that situation." - NRL gender advisor Catharine Lumby.
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