Jack de Belin will play his first NRL game in two years just days after rape charges against him were dropped when two juries couldn’t decide whether he forced a teenage girl into a threesome
- Embattled St George Dragons star will take on the Brisbane Broncos in NRL
- De Belin had his first day of training for the season on Monday in Sydney
- Rape charges against him were dropped on Thursday after two hung juries
- He was accused of taking turns with a friend to rape girl, 19, in December 2018
Jack de Belin will make his NRL return on Thursday night after St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin named him in the team to take on Brisbane.
The Dragons lock had his first day at NRL training for the season on Monday after making his rugby league return in reserve grade over the weekend.
He had spent two-and-a-half years sidelined under the NRL’s no fault standdown rule while defending rape charges, which have now been dropped after two trials ended with hung juries.
He and his friend Callan Sinclair were accused of taking turns to rape a 19-year-old girl in a Wollongong flat in December 2018.
Jack de Belin (picture centre) was thrown into the fray early and impressed despite the Dragons losing the NSW Cup match
De Belin spent two-and-a-half years sidelined under the NRL’s no fault standdown rule while defending rape charges, which have now been dropped after two trials ended with hung juries
De Belin had been training with the NRL group in 2019 and 2020 under former coach Paul McGregor, but was moved back to train with the NSW Cup side once Griffin arrived at the start of the season.
‘It was nice to have him there today. I feel good for him,’ Griffin said of de Belin before making his decision.
‘The fact that he’s been out for so long to be able to come back and train with the NRL team is good.
‘Most of the players were there Saturday to watch him.
‘It broke the ice. Today is a good feeling to be able to walk in and go to NRL training knowing he’s available now.’
St George Illawarra Dragons player Jack de Belin reacts with his family after his return to rugby league on Saturday
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin was in attendance on Saturday and de Belin’s return to the first grade setup is imminent
The 30-year-old was solid in his rugby league return last weekend but is a chance to nab a bench spot for the Dragons against the Broncos.
St George Illawarra have been hit hard with injury but will also be without second-rower Tariq Sims who was selected in the NSW Blues team on Monday, while Josh Kerr and Mikaele Ravalawa will return to the side.
‘We’ll have a look at that over the next 24 hours,’ Griffin said when asked of de Belin’s chance to be named on Tuesday.
‘He’s been out for a long time. If and when he gets his chance he’s got to get his job done and build from there.
‘When we do get him back in the team it’s just about doing his job.
‘How good that looks or how well he plays, we need to be patient with that.’
The St George Illawarra forward, 30, was banned while facing the charges in court. He is pictured at one of his last games in September 2018