Jack de Belin ready as key court date looms

The Dragons will know on Monday whether Jack de Belin can play this season as other clubs circle for his signature.

Jack de Belin has been prevented from playing in the NRL under the competition’s no-fault stand-down policy Picture: Brett Costello

Jack de Belin has spent 18 months as a glorified tackling bag for St George Illawarra. He has ripped in at training and rallied the troops when he can. He has endured weekends watching from a distance and waiting for his chance. It may yet arrive next week.

The Dragons and NSW forward has been sidelined for more than 18 months after being stood down under the game’s no fault stand down policy and his fate may yet rest on an appearance in Wollongong Local Court on Monday, the latest instalment in a saga that has had a debilitating impact on St George Illawarra’s 2020 season.

Radio commentator Ray Hadley recently raised the hackles of Dragons players and officials by suggesting de Belin’s presence at training was a distraction for the team. It was a claim dismissed by captain Cam McInnes. Yet his teammates on Wednesday made it clear that they would love to have him back among their ranks.

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“We haven’t spoken once about Jack’s court case, whether he can come back or anything,” forward Tyson Frizell said.

“We’re preparing to play. To have Jack back in the side will be a bonus. We have a big game we need to focus on. Jack’s doing his thing, preparing for footy.”

The question remains whether he will get the chance to play. De Belin was charged with aggravated sexual assault at the end of 2018 and while he continues to train with the side and draw a pay cheque from the Dragons — he is on a contract worth $595,000 this year — he appears no closer to a return. The sense is that his appearance on Monday will be defining. He may be cleared to come back. Or the case may be adjourned until the end of the year and his season could be over.

The Dragons aren’t the only ones watching closely. Rival clubs are monitoring the situation with interest as they consider making a move for a player who is State of Origin quality when he is playing.

“He is ready to play,” halfback Ben Hunt said. “It’s been talked about a fair bit. He has been training really well and closed to one of our best with the reserves side.

“I feel like he won’t miss a beat. He will be a massive boost. He can change a game.”

Centre Euan Aitken added: “You saw how good of a footy player he was. He has respect and everyone loves him. We will welcome him back into the side.”

Meanwhile, Hunt may have thrived in the dummy half role but St George Illawarra’s million dollar man is adamant his future remains in the halves. Hunt was shifted to the interchange bench in a bid to help spark the Dragons ailing season. “It’s not my preferred position,” Hunt said. “I don’t mind it, I just want to win. I could find myself there for a while.

“Long-term I want to play in the halves. If this is what’s best for the club I’m more than happy to do it. I just want to win some games. It’s been a long, hard trot.’’

It is a role Hunt has filled for the Kangaroos and Queensland in recent years. Knowing his game was well down, Hunt understood his place in the side was on the line. “I have said to (coach Paul McGregor) ‘I’m not playing great’,” Hunt said. “I never told him I don’t want to be picked or put on the bench. It was obvious to everyone and myself that I wasn’t playing good. I never said I didn’t want to be in the team. When he made the decision to move me to nine. I said ‘I understand your decision in doing that, I accept that you’re doing that’.”

Additional reporting: Michael Carayannis