NRL 2021: Banned Dragons forward Jack de Belin returns to training

Dragons forward Jack de Belin has returned to training at Wollongong for the first time since September.

Jack de Belin during a St George Dragons training at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. Picture: Brett Costello

Banned St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin has been spotted training with the Dragons reserve grade squad after returning to pre-season last week.

The Daily Telegraph understands de Belin has not trained with the top squad yet and his time with the reserve grade side is being used as an opportunity to help the forward re-gain his full fitness.

It’s the first time de Belin has trained since undergoing surgery for testicular cancer in September last year.

In December, new coach Anthony Griffin told The Daily Telegraph de Belin would be integrated back into the squad in the latter part of pre-season training.

“For me personally he hasn’t been there for two years, he hasn’t been there since I have been here … so for me, it’s not like I am missing anything as a coach,” he said.

Jack de Belin during a St George Dragons training at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. Picture: Brett Costello

“He hasn’t been on the [playing] roster for two years and he’s never been on it while I have been here anyway in terms of planning what we are going to do because until he is allowed to play, I don’t want to spend any time on it.

“How he is integrated into the group after our Christmas break, we’d have to look at that … he’s got a lot more important things on his plate at the moment.”

The former NSW Blues forward is banned from playing under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy until a verdict is reached in his rape retrial, which will run over three weeks in April.

Jack de Belin during St George Dragons training at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. Picture: Brett Costello

If found not guilty, de Belin could be eligible to play as soon as round nine against Canterbury on May 9 but it is now looking more likely that he will be eased back onto the paddock through reserve grade.

Since de Belin’s last NRL match back in September 2018, former Dragons coach Paul McGregor struggled to find a permanent replacement at lock over the last two seasons.

Players including Blake Lawrie, Tyson Frizell, James Graham, Jackson Ford and Cameron McInnes where all tries at different stages.

But new coach Griffin is looking for one his forwards to step-up during pre-season and claim the No.13 jumper.

“We have a lot of guys standing out, that are training well … Jack Bird could play at 13, McInnes has played there before and we are stacked in the backrow there, we have a lot of options,” Griffin said.

Last month, Dragons CEO Ryan Webb the club would not be seeking any kind of salary cap dispensation for de Belin, who is on the roster for 2021.

De Belin has agreed to a three-year extension, in principle, with the club last September but that deal remains unregistered with the NRL, pending an outcome in his trial later this year.

Up until his last contract expired in October 2020, the backrower had been on full pay of about $600,000 a season.

But under the new agreement, de Belin will only receive a percentage of his pay while the trial is ongoing.