Wests Tigers, New Zealand Warriors keen to sign Jack de Belin if exonerated
Clubs are lining up to sign up Dragons and former New South Wales forward Jack de Belin should he be exonerated of charges of aggravated sexual assault.
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St George Illawarra are bracing for a $3m fight to keep Jack de Belin, as the former NSW forward prepares for his latest appearance in court and coach Paul McGregor waxes lyrical about his readiness for a return.
De Belin is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Monday on aggravated sexual assault charges and his appearance will be closely monitored by a handful of rival clubs, the Warriors and Wests Tigers among those believed to be in the mix for his services.
De Belin is still being paid his $595,000 a year contract by the Dragons after being stood down under the game’s no-fault stand-down policy, but will be a free agent from November 1, when a handful of clubs are expected to enter the queue for his services should he be exonerated.
It is understood several clubs have already met the Dragons enforcer and outlined plans to bid for him should he avoid a jail sentence. St George Illawarra officials are anticipating the asking price for de Belin will increase well beyond his current deal, which was struck three years ago.
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The salary cap since has skyrocketed, as has the demand for quality middle forwards. De Belin was among the best in the game before being stood down and McGregor acknowledged he was still among the fittest players in the club.
Age is also not a factor. Although de Belin is 29, he hasn’t made a tackle or taken a hit-up in anger for 18 months. A four-year deal would not be out of the question as a result, meaning de Belin can expect to command $3m or more if he is available.
It remains a big if and there is no guarantee there will be a resolution next week. The last time the Dragons were awaiting a decision on de Belin, before their game against Newcastle in Mudgee last year, they produced one of their worst performances on McGregor’s watch.
McGregor insists the focus heading into Saturday night’s game against the Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium had been purely on the Titans. De Belin, he said, had not entered their conversations.
“Jack has never been openly discussed about playing within any discussion of the group,” McGregor said.
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“That is something we have learned from last year. He is at training, he is part of our group. We’re just preparing for this week.
“Jack gets an opportunity to defend himself. He hasn’t had that. He is ready to play. He is one of our fittest players in the club, certainly our fittest middle player. He was a standout player in his position before he was stood down. ’’
Asked whether he was concerned about the prospect of de Belin being poached by a rival at the end of the year should he be cleared in court, McGregor said: “I haven’t spoken to Jack about next year. I have been looking after his well being and making sure everything he needs is in place for what is coming up in court.
“He is certainly in the club’s plans for 2021. He is an elite player and when he was playing, he was the best middle, if not one of the best three middles in the game.”
The Dragons have the salary cap space to accommodate an extension to de Belin’s existing deal, their financial position likely to be helped by the impending exit of forward James Graham.
Graham has asked for an immediate release so he can return to England and play for his former club St Helens. McGregor said he would play this weekend against the Titans but it is unlikely to be sighted again in the famous Red V.
“He will definitely play this week,” McGregor said.
“The conversation I had with James is pretty simple in that he wants to finish his career back where he started. ’’
Originally published as Wests Tigers, New Zealand Warriors keen to sign Jack de Belin if exonerated