NRL market watch: Jack de Belin preparing to quit Dragons, Jack Bird’s contract twist
Jack de Belin says St George Illawarra’s contract stance could force him out of the club, Jack Bird is unhappy with his deal, while the Dragons wait nervously on two other stars.
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ichael Carayannis
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3 min read
May 18, 2024 - 6:00AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
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St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin will have to walk away from the club if he wants to a secure a multi-year deal.
De Belin is part of a quartet of Red-V stars - alongside Jack Bird, Jaydn Su’A and Tyrell Sloan - who are in the midst of contract talks about their futures beyond this season.
So far, veteran forward de Belin has been reluctant to take up St George Illawarra’s one-year offer.
At 33, the Dragons have not closed the door on de Belin playing beyond the next 12 months, but they only want to offer a rolling season-by-season deal.
Jack de Belin could join Zac Lomax in the Dragons’ departure round. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
It leaves de Belin with the very real prospect of joining another NRL club with a move to the Super League seemingly unlikely.
“I was looking for a long-term contract,” de Belin said. “They are keen to go year by year. We’ll see what happens. I still have another two or three years at least.
“It is frustrating but it’s a business. I can understand what the club is doing. That’s why you pay a manager good money.
“My preference has always been to stay in the NRL and be a one-club man. At the same time,
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my manager has to explore all avenues. I have a young family and I haven’t got long left. I need to make the most of it.”
De Belin is in the final year of a long-term deal after taking up an option in his favour to remain at the club this year on a contract which began in 2021. Only Ben Hornby, Ben Creagh, Jason Nightingale and Matt Cooper have played more games for St George Illawarra than de Belin.
He is now getting his head around the fact that this year might be his last at the club.
“I don’t want to say (that I won’t be here) for sure but at the same time I have to weigh up the options,” de Belin said. “If the club isn’t keen to keep you … I’ve always had the attitude that, if I play good footy, it will take care of itself.
“You can control the narrative (by playing good football). That’s what I’ve been trying to do.
“Initially it (frustrated me) when I didn’t feel like I was getting the same interest in the club wanting me here but at the same time it was good kick up the bum that you’ve got to play good footy.”
De Belin is not the only Dragon yet to secure his long-term future. St George Illawarra are awaiting word from Jaydn Su’A and Tyrell Sloan to see if either of the pair will take up deals the club has put to them.
While Jack Bird is also in limbo with a potential one year offer available. Bird’s 2025 deal is a mutual option – meaning either party can take up the contract.
If Jack Bird takes up his contract option with the Dragons for 2025, it will be at a significantly reduced rate. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
The Dragons have already indicated they won’t exercise their side of the option leaving Bird until June 30 to take up a contract on a significantly reduced rate.
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Bird, 29, knows he needs to perform better to try and entice the club to hand him a multi-year deal.
“I still have an option to stay,” Bird said. “I need to start playing good footy if I want a good contract. “I don’t want to stay for that contract, I want to earn to get an extended contract. I need to pull my finger out and play a bit better and earn a longer contract.
“I haven’t spoken to the club yet. It’ll depend on how I play the next few weeks.”
