St George Illawarra keen to talk to Jack de Belin about contract extension
St George Illawarra are keen to talk to Jack de Belin about a contract extension this week.
St George Illawarra will seek permission from the NRL to hold face-to-face talks with Jack de Belin later this week as they look to ward off big-money interest from the Warriors and Wests Tigers to extend the contract of the former NSW star.
De Belin is off contract at the end of the year and has had more important matters to deal with in recent weeks as he fights to clear his name, having been charged with aggravated sexual assault in late-2018.
Those allegations prompted the NRL to stand him down under their no-fault stand down policy and although he continues to train and be paid by the Dragons, he hasn’t played for more than a year.
Despite his extended break from the game, he has attracted interest from the Warriors and Wests Tigers, both clubs keen to add him to their ranks should he be exonerated by the courts.
The dilemma for the Tigers, Warriors and the Dragons is that it could be months before de Belin’s situation is resolved. At the same time, they need to start making firm plans around their recruitment and for all three clubs, de Belin’s signature would have significant repercussions.
The 29-year-old is being paid $595,000 this year but will receive a pay rise as part of his next deal despite sitting out the best part of two years.
The Warriors are believed to be ready to table a four-year deal worth around $3 million and while the Dragons won’t be able to match that, they are expected to make a competitive offer for de Belin.
Chief executive Ryan Webb and head of recruitment Ian Millward both confirmed the club had begun preliminary talks with de Belin’s camp and were hoping to make further inroads later this week as they seek permission from the NRL to meet him in person.
De Belin is part of the Dragons’ biosecurity bubble and only last week the NRL sent an email to players and club staff urging them to avoid unnecessary visitors to their households and avoid visiting other households.
Webb and Millward are outside the bubble and the Dragons will therefore take every precaution as they seek to establish whether de Belin wants to stay with the club or chase the big bucks on offer elsewhere.
“We’re in negotiations and we are keen to keep him,” Millward said. “We’re going through that process.”
It is understood both the Warriors and Tigers met de Belin before the game went into lockdown, having made clear their interest in signing the 29-year-old. They have maintained contact since then and their interest remains as strong as ever, both clubs recognising the transformational impact he could have on their forward packs.
Prior to facing criminal charges, de Belin was one of the game’s best backrowers, having made three appearances for the Blues. He was also the leader of the Dragons forward pack and they have never really recovered from his absence, hence their desire to tie him to a long-term deal in the near future.
Teammates insist he has been among their best at training and there is a view that two years out of the game will extend his career given he has avoided being bashed by opposition on a weekly basis.
De Belin’s criminal case has been pencilled in for November, although legal argument has been carried out in recent weeks as his legal team look to have the case thrown out.
His retention is a key piece of St George Illawarra’s recruitment puzzle, although they also have decisions to make around a number of other positions. The club needs to make a call on where they see Ben Hunt’s future, the Dragons’ $6 million man having starred at hooker in recent weeks.
If the club decides his future lies in the No 9 jersey, it would likely mean a move for captain Cameron McInnes to the back row.
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