Loading De Belin is doing what he is allowed and entitled to do under the NRL’s ‘‘no-fault’’ stand-down policy: train with the team. He is intent on staying fit, and being around the team is good for him. But many at the club would prefer the players weren’t getting a daily reminder of the star player who is not available for them. It’s a tough situation. De Belin has already made it very clear through his legal challenges to the NRL’s stand-down policy that he believes he is innocent. He is already about $500,000 in debt as a result of the failed legal bids.

He earns $600,000 a year. He has just become a dad. It’s my understanding the club has reached out to de Belin, his family and his agent to discuss the way forward to ensure he has money to support his family. No game time: De Belin trains with the Dragons at WIN Stadium. Credit:Anna Warr To make matters worse, de Belin will be a free agent in a couple of months as his deal expires at the end of 2020. Unsurprisingly, he is not a hot property on the market. His latest legal challenge to the Federal Court’s ruling against him is believed to be on a no-win-no-fee basis. The club wants to discuss the reality of his situation. A loss in the courts will obviously be soul-destroying for de Belin and the club. But they are also bracing themselves for a win by de Belin in the courts. That will result in further court action: de Belin will launch defamation action on many fronts and you can anticipate a bigger case against the NRL.

NRL paid $15,000 bill for Smith's private dinner It was the invitation Cooper Cronk never got. The one to the private dinner to mark Cameron Smith’s 400th game. A grand achievement — and one the NRL paid thousands to celebrate. Not the Storm. It was the game’s governing body that picked up the tab for the party for 30 of Smith’s nearest and dearest at a swish Melbourne venue, Panama Dining Room in Fitzroy. The NRL confirmed it paid the bill. Extras, such as flights and accommodation, mean the celebration cost about $15,000 for the night. As you’d expect, Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg stayed in town and awarded Smith a crystal football. Greenberg at least came back to Sydney to present Benji Marshall with a ball for his 300th match. Neither went to Gosford to celebrate with Gavin Cooper. That was left to head of football Graham Annesley. Lavish affair: The Cameron Smith soiree set the NRL back $15,000, but don't ask Cooper Cronk how it went. He wasn't invited. Credit:NRL Photos

Many have forgotten that a testimonial match was held for Smith (and Johnathan Thurston) at the start of last season; something normally reserved for players about to retire. Former Rabbitohs skipper John Sutton had to fight for one, while there is no sign of a testimonial for Robbie Farah or Paul Gallen. We exposed previously that former NRL boss Dave Smith promised Smith a series of testimonial events. Clubs were outraged and the loophole closed. The NRL’s generosity towards Smith comes at a time when many are questioning the money spent by head office. Beattie and commission in wilderness It defies belief that Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie is going to allow the game to continue to bleed over the Mark Coyne affair while he is sightseeing in the Kimberley. Especially with the rumour mill in overdrive about the goings-on that night. Coyne is a decent person and a valuable addition to the commission. He could have made a good chairman and was a real contender, along with the likes of Amanda Laing and Peter V’landys, to replace Beattie.

A smart football mind with some serious steel about him, Coyne was asking questions that others didn’t like. He has jeopardised his position and damaged the image of the commission by being arrested and charged after allegedly abusing police in Singapore. Worse still, he failed to notify the NRL integrity unit for six weeks while he awaited the outcome of his case. Loading The reason he has offered is that he was advised against telling the NRL because it was likely the media would find out. That’s a massive insult to the commission. It indicates it leaks like a sieve. Coyne returned to Australia on Thursday after finalising the case. The NRL would throw the book at any player or club that did what Coyne did. However, to his credit, Coyne has taken responsibility for his actions, apologised and even offered to quit the commission if necessary. The only trouble is he will have a long wait to discover his fate while Beattie finishes his holiday.

Beattie learnt of Coyne’s arrest on Tuesday, but still chose to proceed with his trip rather than sorting out the crisis. He needs to say publicly whether he would have told NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg about it if the Herald had not broken the story. Loading However, Beattie is in no hurry to return with an explanation. He is leaving Coyne in limbo and allowing critics to, once again, poke fun at the code. The game and Coyne deserve better. It is not the first time Beattie has packed up and gone holidaying at crucial times. He spent most of the off-season exploring icebergs while the game imploded. The Coyne issue can’t be resolved by Greenberg. It has to be dealt with by Beattie and the commission. Beattie should have already spoken to Coyne by phone and ordered a conference call so the other commissioners could consider his offer to quit. Instead, the chairman continues his trek in the wilderness, which is where the commission is headed under his leadership.

Cooper-coach It won’t happen, but if there was one person I’d be targeting to coach the Gold Coast Titans next year it would be the smartest player in the game, Cooper Cronk. We all saw last year in the grand final the value of having Cronk as an on-field coach. The Titans are looking for a Queenslander and Cronk fits that bill. They are looking for a big name and Cronk fits that bill. It would be a brave move. Cronk has bigger plans. He has overseas business studies in mind and he will play a role in the Roosters’ system. As this column told you months ago, former Titans coach Garth Brennan was always gone after Origin. And if they go to Kevin Walters he will take the job. Cool head: Cooper Cronk has business studies on his mind, not the Titans. Credit:AAP

Titans have major problem Loading If things were not bad enough for the Titans, their major sponsor, TripADeal, was due to sign on last week. They are now sitting back and waiting to see who the coach will be before committing to the club. 'Drinking no issue' Brennan has shut out the world since being sacked, but his mates say he is fuming about suggestions of excessive drinking. Titans heavyweights are telling people that Brennan did not meet their standards, but drinking was not an issue.

As we have written before, Brennan had no relationship with Titans head of performance and culture Mal Meninga, who conducted the review into the club. There have also been suggestions that Brennan didn’t produce game plans – or, at least, meaningful ones. That’s something the club did not deny. Bulldogs battle to rebuild Lynne and Chris Anderson are facing an uphill battle rebuilding their beloved Bulldogs. And things are not going that well for them in their other business ventures. I have seen documents that show that on June 11 this year Anderson Recruitment went into liquidation. We have been informed their commitments to staff have been met. There is said to be more to the sudden end to the company. This news is sure to be seized upon by the enemies of the Andersons. Pressure on all fronts: Business is not going well for Lynne Anderson. Credit:Adam Pengilly