JDB

[getsmarty]

Dragons lose veteran forward to rival club from 2026​

MSN

 

[getsmarty]

Longest-serving Dragon calls it quits after 13 seasons, diverting Sloan's uncertainty

Jack De Belin is the latest Dragon to call time on his stint at the Red V.

www.illawarramercury.com.au

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

This team f**king sucks! Just a bunch of dumbmerkins run this place. Losing players and not signing anyone of note. Another 10 years of struggling and rebuilding to come.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

This team f**king sucks! Just a bunch of dumbmerkins run this place. Losing players and not signing anyone of note. Another 10 years of struggling and rebuilding to come.

Always arguments for and against in these cases but JDB basically went into cryogenic preservation during those years he didn't play and imo, has been our best forward in whatever position he has been selected over the last couple of years. He appears to be ageless and my sons and I sit and marvel at him singlehandedly chopping down players efficiently while others are huffing and puffing and having to rely on an army of other defenders to help them get the opposition player to the ground. Excellent technique- never gets concussed- just like Jake T- and is a good ball carrier and distributor. He will be missed- BIG TIME- and with his resilient body, imo, will probably play till he's 40.

Ryles, the undisciplined and dare I say- basically dumb player- like the ugly duckling has grown into a smart coach and is plucking the eyes out of our team. If Da Silva is recruited, watch the Eels go next year.

 

[matPORTS]

Jack had his break out year in 2017, gained an Origin jersey on the back of that in 2018. After that it was a complete dogs breakfast with his court case (which in all fairness never should of happened), and him hiding under the bed like a coward during the BBQ-gate saga.

Yes, he has been one of our most consistent forwards when he has played. But that's also from a very low baseline and relative comparison vs other players in our squad (particularly during the last four seasons) as well.

As others have pointed out - he has a maximum one more year of effectiveness left in him.

Parramatta are trying to re-balance their cap with a solid player on minimal wage while they clean out deadwood currently on high money. They will also bring juniors through.This is the same strategy we need to be implementing as well.

As for us - Stewart will be starting in the 13 next year, and the Couchmans will be in the props rotation along with LPT. Egan, Tsougranis & Halangahu are the future on the edge with Su'a as the mainstay. We still need to find a solid first grade prop + edge forward for depth. Hopefully the money being freed up by JDB gives us the flexibility we need to make those recruits.

 

[chowiesplatterpoo2]

Jack had his break out year in 2017, gained an Origin jersey on the back of that in 2018. After that it was a complete dogs breakfast with his court case (which in all fairness never should of happened), and him hiding under the bed like a coward during the BBQ-gate saga.

Yes, he has been one of our most consistent forwards when he has played. But that's also from a very low baseline and relative comparison vs other players in our squad (particularly during the last four seasons) as well.

As others have pointed out - he has a maximum one more year of effectiveness left in him.

Parramatta are trying to re-balance their cap with a solid player on minimal wage while they clean out deadwood currently on high money. They will also bring juniors through.This is the same strategy we need to be implementing as well.

As for us - Stewart will be starting in the 13 next year, and the Couchmans will be in the props rotation along with LPT. Egan, Tsougranis & Halangahu are the future on the edge with Su'a as the mainstay. We still need to find a solid first grade prop + edge forward for depth. Hopefully the money being freed up by JDB gives us the flexibility we need to make those recruits.

Agreed, this isn't all doom and gloom. As of which seems to be the climate of late. It is hard and will have some cons but pros also. I think, all said and done, probably a good thing for JDB and the Dragons (if that is possible)...

 

[mattw5]

My hate is not directed at Jack i am devastated. I am fuming with the club not that they decided to not offer a deal or a 2 year deal its the fact that they are so inept in recruitment & likely have no one lined up to replace him or even talking to anyone.

 

[Veteran Dragon]

I’m very disappointed to lose him he is a Dragon through and through.

 

[I'm Hornby]

Big loss and although we have some much hyped young forwards, they're all still unproven and it will take a number of years for any one of them to fulfill their potential and be on par with what JDB delivers right now. That means unless we come up with a replacement in the way of a new signing, this will set the club back a number of years performance wise in the forwards.

Flanagan needs to be held fully accountable for not only his poor recruitment record but now his even more woeful retention record.

 

[Maximus]

Everyone sooks about signing old players but then an old player leaves and everyone’s slitting their wrists.
Personally I’m glad he won’t be the guy who breaks Hornby’s record. He’s not worthy.

Exactly. All this forum does is whinge that we are signing old players, and now they are bagging the club for not re-signing a guy who would be 36 at the start of the 2nd year.

 

[hewi]

A 1 year contract and a mutual option in my opinion was what was best for the club. We had to give Gutherson a 3 year contract to get him which was 1 to many IMO and Parra offered 2 years so off he went and I don’t blame him. He will never earn this sort of money outside of football, good luck to him.

 

[jeffdragon]

The article put out by Saints says balance as young genuine first graders is yet to be proven in my opinion.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Sorry to see Jack move on but tbh that's the least of our problems atm....yes he's been part of the furniture but unfortunately the joint needs a complete refurbishment....

 

[Kolum Kid]

Maybe the the BOD/Coach or both are sending a message to the rest of the team. Allowing arguable our best forward to leave and also premitting the young player who had the greatest unrealised potential to leave maybe a warning to the rest of the team.
Sloan is a disappointment to me but if he ends up at the storm it might come back to haunt us.

 

[blacksafake]

It’s better to let a player go one year too early rather than one year too late.

 

[Dragon David]

Maybe the the BOD/Coach or both are sending a message to the rest of the team. Allowing arguable our best forward to leave and also premitting the young player who had the greatest unrealised potential to leave maybe a warning to the rest of the team.
Sloan is a disappointment to me but if he ends up at the storm it might come back to haunt us.

What's is this about Sloan and the Storm, KK?

 

[Saints 32-8]

Another 2 years for JDB?? Not for me thanks….Couchman x 2, Egan, Stewart, Su’a, Luc, Halangahu should be more than sufficient. Sign a big tough Prop, Selwyn and one or two seasoned first graders and we’ll be more than competitive…

 

[Nich]

7 years to late

 

[Gareth67]

The man deserved to finish on his own terms , as said by others - a one club player , but most unfortunately that is not to be .

I did believe that the club would offer him another season however yet again our BOD have shown just how dysfunctional they are - what is up is down , the sun rises in the West and sets in the East , good lawd , when will it all end ?

However gentlemen - and ladies don’t go losing your panties just yet , as I am sure that the Dragons will be signing at the very least another half dozen or so top shelf players , whom could in fact have already agreed to terms with the Big Red V , we only need to wait , wait and wait ( how old was Rip Van Wrinkle ? ) until the announcements are made !

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

Maybe the the BOD/Coach or both are sending a message to the rest of the team. Allowing arguable our best forward to leave and also premitting the young player who had the greatest unrealised potential to leave maybe a warning to the rest of the team.
Sloan is a disappointment to me but if he ends up at the storm it might come back to haunt us.

I reckon, not even the Storm can get the best out of Sloane. Bellamy would lose his shit watching Sloane f**k things up week in and week out.