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NRL makes big change to integrity unit process
Scott Bailey, AAP • February 19th, 2026 5:20 pm
Former Supreme Court judge Geoffrey Bellew will take up a new role on the NRL's integrity unit | Photo: Brendan Esposito/AAP
The NRL has overhauled its integrity unit system, taking the responsibility for determining off-field sanctions off CEO Andrew Abdo and handing it to an independent figure.
Under changes announced on Thursday, former NSW Supreme Court justice Geoffrey Bellew will take on a newly-minted role of independent decision maker.
In doing so, Bellew will determine penalties for most off-field matters, with the exception of doping and drug-testing breaches as well vilification cases.
The integrity unit will continue to exist, still charged with investigating off-field matters and determining whether rules were breached.
But where once they handed the case to the NRL's CEO to decide any sanctions, that will now be passed on to Bellew.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo can appeal any decision made by Bellew | Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP
As part of the rules, Abdo as CEO will also still hold the right to make submissions to Bellew, giving him the chance to show how incidents have impacted the NRL.
Players and clubs will also still hold the right to respond to breach notices before sanctions are made, while they or Abdo can appeal any decision made by Bellew.
Abdo will also still have the right to rule on whether players fall under the no-fault stand-down policy, particularly in cases that do not meet the automatic threshold for suspension.
Bellew's appointment continues to make him one of the most powerful figures in rugby league, given he is already the chair of the NRL judiciary.
The NRL handles a multitude of integrity matters each season, but were widely criticised for the lightness of a nine-match suspension handed to Ezra Mam following his drug-driving crash last year.
Talks over the potential of an independent decision maker have been ongoing for years, with extensive consultation with both the clubs and players' union.
The independent decision maker will operate at arm's length from the NRL | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The biggest advantage is considered to be the fact that sanctions will now come at arm's length from head office, and operate in a similar independent manner to the NRL judiciary.
The change marks the biggest alteration to the policing of off-field behaviour since the introduction of the NRL's integrity unit in 2013.
The NRL is also yet to appoint a new head of the integrity unit, since Jason King's move to become Manly CEO at the start of this year.
It is not believed the NRL are closing in on appointing a new integrity unit boss, with Bellew's appointment having no impact on the league's requirement to fill the role.
