Dragons star Jack de Belin opens up on Papua New Guinea backflip

It was less than a year ago that Jack de Belin turned down an opportunity to represent Papua New Guinea at the World Cup. Now he explains why he’s backflipped on that decision.

Dragons star Jack de Belin trains with PNG ahead of his Test debut. Picture: Simon Keslep of Post Courier Sports

Jack de Belin had long rejected Papua New Guinea’s advances to play for the Kumuls because he didn’t feel deserving. That will change on Sunday when the Dragons veteran makes his international debut for the Kumuls.

De Belin, 32, hadn’t even stepped foot onto the island nation until he joined PNG’s camp ahead of their Pacific Championship clash against Cook Islands.

“Every couple of years the word always gets out that my Nan was born there but I quietly turn it down,” de Belin said.

“I always had the impression that I didn’t want to take a spot away from someone else.

“I’d always had aspiration to play for Australia but I am a realist that it’s not going to happen now. Everyone wants to play rep footy and you’re kidding yourself if you don’t.

“So I can’t wait for this experience.

“Rugby league has provided me with a pretty good life. This is my way of giving back.”

Dragons star Jack de Belin trains with PNG ahead of his international debut. Picture: Simon Keslep of Post Courier Sports

De Belin’s late grandmother Aileen Leary was born in Raubal, a picturesque part of PNG, while her parents were serving as missionaries.

The pursuit of de Belin to play for Kumuls goes back more than 10 years when PNG great Adrian Lam was coaching the Dragons under-20s and a young de Belin was coming through the grades.

“I’m fortunate to have done a lot of travel but I hadn’t been to PNG,” de Belin said.

“I have that connection and I want to pay respect to my nan and the country. I’d say she would be very proud.”

New Dragons coach Shane Flanagan also had a crack at de Belin last year while he was working with PNG to help with their World Cup campaign.

Eventually it was incoming Kumuls coach Justin Holbrook – who de Belin also knew during Holbrook’s coaching stint at the Dragons – who helped convince the former NSW forward that it was the right time.

Jack de Belin had previously turned down opportunities to play for PNG. Picture: Simon Keslep of Post Courier Sports

“I have a good relationship with Justin,” de Belin said.

“He reached out to me and we had some dialogue. Some of the boys were also speaking to me and they sold it to me.

“(St George Illawarra teammate Dan Russell) is also a white Kumul. He sold it to me pretty well and I have that connection with him.

“I knew I’d love to go. The right time is now. I’m getting old and it’s one of those things that I’d be kicking myself at the end of my career if I didn’t give it a go.”

De Belin headlines a list of NRL and Super League stars who will turn out for the Kumuls. Alex Johnston, Nene MacDonald and Lachlan Lam will also play on Sunday in Port Moresby.