Jack de Belin is weighing up whether to leave the NRL for the security of longer deals already tabled in England, as a contract stand-off with St George Illawarra drags on.
Off contract at the end of 2024, de Belin has been told by the Dragons they only want to offer him one-year deals at his age.
The 33-year-old has attracted interest from rival NRL clubs, but at this stage they too are for one-year deals.
De Belin’s preference is to stay in Wollongong and finish as a one-club player, with the former NSW State of Origin representative by far the Dragons’ longest-serving player.
He indicated he would almost re-sign immediately if the current offer is extended to two years.
“That’s kind of what the stand-off (with the Dragons) has been,” de Belin told AAP.
“I would prefer to get the two years so I don’t have to go through this whole process again next year.
“I have been at the club for a long time. I feel like they know what kind of player and person I am.
Jack de Belin was previously stood down by the NRL when he faced serious charges. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
“I was hoping to get that, but at the same time it is a business and they have to do what they have to do as well.
“I would like to get something finalised pretty quickly.”
AAP has been told de Belin has been offered multi-year deals by numerous English clubs.
But playing on de Belin’s mind is the belief he has more to offer in Australia, and knows any English move would end his NRL career.
De Belin’s current Dragons contract is the one he signed in 2020, during a two-and-a-half-year stand-down from the game while fighting sexual assault charges.
He routinely points to that period as to why he believes his body does not feel as old as his age suggests, with more years left in it.
“It’s nice to know there are options over there (in England),” de Belin said.
“I could go overseas essentially.
“Maybe if I didn’t think I was up to the speed of the NRL any more, or if I didn’t have it in me I could definitely go over there.
“But while I’m still playing at a higher level, a big part of me wants to stay here in the NRL. I don’t think I’m in a position to go yet.”
De Belin’s future could also hinge on other factors with Parramatta yet to decide on a coach for 2025 and Stefano Utoikamanu’s future at Wests Tigers up in the air.
There is also interest in de Belin from Wayne Bennett, but South Sydney’s salary-cap situation is clouded given Lachlan Ilias is yet to find a new home.
Souths have released Damien Cook to the Dragons for next year with Euan Aitken to follow Bennett from Redcliffe to Redfern.
“Wayne was my debut coach and I’m forever grateful for him seeing something in me,” de Belin said.
“I will always have a special spot for Wayne.”
Cotric Catalans bound
Nick Cotric will leave Canberra at the end of this NRL season, with the former Australian Test winger to move to Catalans Dragons.
Cotric on Thursday morning confirmed a new three-year deal with the French-based English Super League club, ending his second stint with the Raiders.
A NSW State of Origin winger in 2019, Cotric was on the rise when he left Canberra for Canterbury at the end of the following season.
But he has since been unable to recapture his best form, returning to Canberra in 2022 after an unhappy stint at the Bulldogs.
He was briefly dropped by coach Ricky Stuart, before returning to the wing for the past two months.
Catalans on Thursday trumpeted the 25-year-old’s signing as an exciting one for their club, given Cotric’s speed and ability to break tackles.
“I can’t wait to put the jersey on and go hard with the boys,” the winger said in a statement.
“I’m excited to make new memories and play for a great club and team. Allez les Dragons!”
Cotric’s signing also casts further questions over Brent Naden’s future at Wests Tigers.
Naden was given permission to look elsewhere by the joint-venture earlier this month, as the club attempt to clear salary-cap space.
English media had reported that Catalans were keen to sign him, but it now appears Cotric has taken that spot on their roster.
(AAP)
Nick Cotric. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
NRL reveals 10-year master plan for radical expansion
The NRL aims to reveal its master plan by the end of the season for a possible 20-team competition, as part of the sport’s most radical growth in decades.
League bosses met over several hours on Wednesday afternoon in Melbourne, opening the process for expansion over the next 10 years.
Consortiums representing possible expansion options will be able to submit expressions of interest to the NRL over the next month, before the league considers its options.
AAP has been told the goal is for a decision to be made by early September, with the first new team likely to enter the competition in 2027.
The increase to 20 teams, from 16 as recently as 2022, will represent the game’s biggest growth since the start of the Super League war, when four sides entered the Australian Rugby League in 1995.
Perth, Papua New Guinea and a second side in New Zealand remain the favourites to enter the competition.
The Perth bid is believed to have leapfrogged the federal government-supported PNG project to become the first to enter, in 2027.
PNG are the most likely option for 2028, allowing extra time for the infrastructure to be put in place for a side based in the capital Port Moresby.
A second New Zealand team is most likely to enter early in the next decade.
Perth’s bid chief Peter Cumins and the Western Australian government’s representative Peter Tinley are in Sydney this week to work through their push.
Included in that are meetings with the Newtown Jets on Thursday and North Sydney Bears on Friday, as those clubs push to be possible partners in the enterprise.
While the preference from WA is to go it alone, there is a desire from the NRL to investigate the benefits of a partnership.
It is believed a Perth Bears or Jets outfit would be a winner for broadcasters and rival clubs, bringing old fans out of hibernation for TV ratings and ticket sales.
Western Reds captain Brad Mackay with the foundation team in 1995. (Getty Images)
Any link with the Bears or Jets would provide a pathways boost for Perth, adding to the 4100 registered players in WA.
The state government is firmly behind the move, with a Perth NRL outfit to become a major tenant at the Venues West-owned HBF Park.
After meeting with Perth officials this week, former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has emerged as a potential coaching option.
WA officials have pushed for a return to the NRL since the closure of the Perth Reds during the Super League war.
Wednesday’s decision gives them a much-needed boost, with the WA government working closely with the group who put together the successful bid by the Dolphins in 2021.
Hammer shoulder raises concern at Maroons
It is too early to tell if a shoulder injury to star Queensland centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will keep him out of the State of Origin decider, coach Billy Slater says.
The 22-year-old left the field in the 24th minute of the 38-18 loss to NSW at the MCG on Wednesday night.
He showed toughness to return with padding after the halftime break and scored his ninth Origin try in six games.
“I wouldn’t have a clue,” Slater said.
“I think he has picked up an AC (joint) injury. It was a tough effort for him to get back out there. He obviously wasn’t 100 per cent but he knew the team needed him.”
Canterbury Bulldogs
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Tabuai-Fidow was named to play for the Dolphins against St George Illawarra on Saturday night but if he is unavailable the Dolphins have the bye the following week.
The Maroons will be hoping he recovers in time for the decider on July 17 in Brisbane where the try-scoring machine will be vital to victory.
If not, they do have the option of recalling Brisbane centre Selwyn Cobbo who did such a strong job off the bench in game one.
The Maroons trailed by an all-time Origin record 34-0 at halftime before rallying after the break.
“I think the whole dressing room in there is pretty disappointed. It was a tough old first half,” Slater said.
“It felt like we couldn’t stop the momentum of the game. Part of that is on us.
“We will look at our game and work out what we need to adjust and what we need to go after. One thing I do know is that there is another game in three weeks.
“I thought our start was OK. We held them out for a few sets and then they broke and got a try and it was all downhill from there.”
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Maroons were simply out-muscled up front by NSW and were overwhelmed.
“It is a tough game to play and a lot tougher when you are tired. It snowballed against (NSW) and we couldn’t stop it,” Slater said.
“I thought the second half was quite good. We went after our footy a bit more and we were a little more patient.
“We weren’t looking for any shortcuts to draw back the scoreline. There were too many things in that first half that we didn’t do as well as we would have liked. We all know that.”
May taking Panthers to court
Panthers centre Taylan May has undergone action to sue Penrith, following their intent to sack the 22-year-old for breaching club protocols.
May’s law suit has been adjourned until next month in the Federal Court – following first actions by the Panthers club, who issued the back with a show-case notice, related to off-field matters and misdemeanours.
Inappropriate language on social media and a video of May driving 96km/h in a school zone earlier this month has not helped his case.
May was told by club administration that if he were sacked, only his salary for 2024 would be paid out, leaving him hung out to dry and without the $1.2 million arranged in a new 2025/26 contract.
His legal team believes the flyer should not be asked questions in relation to his current criminal case, that involves allegations of May punching his wife in the face.
“If (Penrith) is permitted to proceed as contemplated by the second show cause notice and related correspondence, then May will be faced with the invidious choice of either exercising his common law right to silence, in which case May’s employment is likely to be terminated … or answering (Penrith’s) questions, thereby fundamentally alter(ing) the accusatorial judicial process,” May’s team said in court.
Currently, May is subject to the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy, which prohibits players from appearing on the field throughout a criminal legal matter.
with AAP