We learnt from last year': Dragons wary of raising hopes before de Belin court date
Christian Nicolussi
June 19, 2020 — 2.26pm
St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor says his players have learnt to not get their hopes up about the potential return of Jack de Belin as he prepares for his latest day in court next week.
Rather than sensing excitement among the playing group about the star forward potentially ending his NRL exile, McGregor said: "I think the excitement is Jack getting an opportunity to defend himself in court, and he hasn't had that.''
Dragons players were crushed on the eve of a game against Newcastle last May when news filtered through the Federal Court had upheld the NRL's decision to sideline de Belin under its no-fault stand-down rule as he faced sexual assault charges.
Some of the senior Dragons were so convinced de Belin would return they
briefly discussed boycotting the game against Newcastle because of their shock. Tyson Frizell said:
"There was a lot of disappointment and a weird feeling with everyone thinking Jack would be back that day."
McGregor said there would be no repeat of those scenes this time for de Belin's trial, which is scheduled for a motion hearing at Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
Jack de Belin will return to court on Monday.Credit:Sydney Morning Herald
A return against the Sydney Roosters on Friday week is highly unlikely, but de Belin's 18 months out of the game could end in the coming weeks if he gets a favourable result.
"It's never been openly discussed with the group about Jack playing this year,'' McGregor said on Friday.
"That's something we learnt from last year. He is still training and a part of our group. From day one we've put [first] the welfare of Jack and making sure he's in a comfortable environment.
"Jack is ready to play. He's one of the fittest players at the club - certainly our fittest middle player - and he was a standout player in his position before he got stood down. He trains as good as anyone else in the squad so he's ready to go.''
St Helens bound ... James Graham.Credit:Getty
Rival clubs are circling de Belin in the hope he will be free to play next year, with the New Zealand Warriors and Wests Tigers prepared to welcome the 29-year-old.
McGregor was certain the club's recruitment boss Ian Millward would do everything possible to keep the star lock forward. Salary cap space will not be an issue for the Red V, especially with fellow representative forward Frizell bound for Newcastle.
"He'd be in the club's plans for 2021 because he's an elite player and when he was playing he was the best middle, if not one of the best three middles, in the game at No.13.''
Meanwhile, McGregor confirmed James Graham would definitely play against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday despite asking for an official release to return home to England.
"The conversation I had with James was pretty simple - he wants to finish his career where he started back at St Helens. But he will definitely play this week,'' McGregor said.
"And he's got the remainder of the year to do that after an opening came with [Luke Thompson] going to Canterbury.
"I don't know [if it will be his last game on Saturday] but I do know what James will give us on the football field and that's an all-in performance.''
By making it public Graham wanted an English farewell, McGregor said it would make it easier for managers of middle forwards at rival clubs to make contact with the Dragons.
McGregor said he was interested only in a ''like-for-like replacement'' and not someone in another position.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/we...fore-de-belin-court-date-20200619-p5548f.html
