Jack de Belin

Eric

Eric

Staff
GCRV said:
Let me say this one more time:

I'm absolutely flabbergasted, stunned, gobsmacked, the club didn't have salary cap space to extend JDB but had enough to sign Josh Kerr. This is so bizzare it makes the signing and extension of Tom Eisenhuth look like a masterstroke.
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I've been JDBs biggest supporter for a long time. I remember I think it was his debut in the starting side or maybe just debut period. Against Newcastle who were good at that time. Was the best forward on the field.

Shortly after that, I remember against the Broncos who were also very good then, they had a roll on and Dragons were defending on our line. Sam Thaiday ran straight at JDB. Obviously thinking, "I'm gonna run straight over this kid." JDB stopped him in his tracks, picked him up and dumped him. While Thaiday's arms and legs were flailing all over. Looked comical.

Or agaisnt Souffs when they were very good. Same situation as against Donkeys above but right on our line. None other than Sam Burgess charged at the line, it was a try for all money until JDB absolutely smashed him with a 100% legal hit from which Burgess didn't get up from for a long time and that was only to walk off the field.

Good memories. IMO has been the Dragons best forward for many years on both sides of his police/governing body farce. IMO by far the best for the years after the above mentioned farce until now.

He's sliding. At his age, the end might come quite fast. Next year he'd definitely be behind both Couchmans and Stewart. Hate to say it but might have been the right time to cut him loose. No room for sentimentality. We need to be ruthless.

I hope they get him back on the coaching staff when he hangs up the boots.

But signing Josh Kerr even when the younger version of him, when he should've been in his prime, was so poor? I don't know what the thinking is with that.
 
D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
Eric said:
I've been JDBs biggest supporter for a long time. I remember I think it was his debut in the starting side or maybe just debut period. Against Newcastle who were good at that time. Was the best forward on the field.

Shortly after that, I remember against the Broncos who were also very good then, they had a roll on and Dragons were defending on our line. Sam Thaiday ran straight at JDB. Obviously thinking, "I'm gonna run straight over this kid." JDB stopped him in his tracks, picked him up and dumped him. While Thaiday's arms and legs were flailing all over. Looked comical.

Or agaisnt Souffs when they were very good. Same situation as against Donkeys above but right on our line. None other than Sam Burgess charged at the line, it was a try for all money until JDB absolutely smashed him with a 100% legal hit from which Burgess didn't get up from for a long time and that was only to walk off the field.

Good memories. IMO has been the Dragons best forward for many years on both sides of his police/governing body farce. IMO by far the best for the years after the above mentioned farce until now.

He's sliding. At his age, the end might come quite fast. Next year he'd definitely be behind both Couchmans and Stewart. Hate to say it but might have been the right time to cut him loose. No room for sentimentality. We need to be ruthless.

I hope they get him back on the coaching staff when he hangs up the boots.

But signing Josh Kerr even when the younger version of him, when he should've been in his prime, was so poor? I don't know what the thinking is with that.
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You put it all in the right perspective really well Eric. I trust what our coaches and recruiters have done will pay dividends. Even last night JDB was off his game - it was evident. He will do a reasonable amount of hard tackling for the Eels for a few games but I cannot see him being as intense as he was with us.

It would be good if the Dragons do get him back to help with the defence for the players we have in a couple of years time.
Anyway
 
Eric

Eric

Staff
Dragon David said:
You put it all in the right perspective really well Eric. I trust what our coaches and recruiters have done will pay dividends. Even last night JDB was off his game - it was evident. He will do a reasonable amount of hard tackling for the Eels for a few games but I cannot see him being as intense as he was with us.

It would be good if the Dragons do get him back to help with the defence for the players we have in a couple of years time.
Anyway
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💯
 
RedVHeartbeat

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Eric said:
I've been JDBs biggest supporter for a long time. I remember I think it was his debut in the starting side or maybe just debut period. Against Newcastle who were good at that time. Was the best forward on the field.

Shortly after that, I remember against the Broncos who were also very good then, they had a roll on and Dragons were defending on our line. Sam Thaiday ran straight at JDB. Obviously thinking, "I'm gonna run straight over this kid." JDB stopped him in his tracks, picked him up and dumped him. While Thaiday's arms and legs were flailing all over. Looked comical.

Or agaisnt Souffs when they were very good. Same situation as against Donkeys above but right on our line. None other than Sam Burgess charged at the line, it was a try for all money until JDB absolutely smashed him with a 100% legal hit from which Burgess didn't get up from for a long time and that was only to walk off the field.

Good memories. IMO has been the Dragons best forward for many years on both sides of his police/governing body farce. IMO by far the best for the years after the above mentioned farce until now.

He's sliding. At his age, the end might come quite fast. Next year he'd definitely be behind both Couchmans and Stewart. Hate to say it but might have been the right time to cut him loose. No room for sentimentality. We need to be ruthless.

I hope they get him back on the coaching staff when he hangs up the boots.

But signing Josh Kerr even when the younger version of him, when he should've been in his prime, was so poor? I don't know what the thinking is with that.
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💯 Good post mate. Your his second biggest supporter. Your memory is better than mine, but to be honest there are so many hilites on Jacks reel, too many to describe here. Need 10 pages. His ability and passion in the Red V is only surpassed by his hair styles, most of which were tasteless. But I'm now an old fart and others will see them as in mode.
If the club did not give Jack a Jubilee lap of honor yesterday, then there has been a gross injustice. Cant think of anyone more deserving than him. One of our best, if not the best in the modern era to wear the Dragons colors. For mine Jack or JDB as he is affectionately known, is a legend.
Next week is the end of an era, a closed chapter from the Dragons book for JDB and his loyal fanbase.
 
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RedVHeartbeat

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Eric said:
I hope they get him back on the coaching staff when he hangs up the boots.
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Definitely. To see him passing on his perfect tackling technique to up and coming Dragons.

Dunno the exact coin Jack was on in his last three yrs but betting it wasnt near Guthos $850K and Vals $1m. Even tho he deserved similar as he carried this team. His huge effort w'd been well rewarded if we'd had a game manager for the past 7 yrs.
 
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RedVHeartbeat

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
The Jack de Belin Story (up to 2018)
Jack de Belin played his junior footy for Cootamundra in Group 9 regional comp before signing with the Dragons and playing his first game in the iconic Red V jumper in the 2011 National Youth Competition where he made it into the team of the year squad.

He made his First Grade debut on 27 June 2011 against Manly, playing only three matches that year. But the grandson of a Kangaroo had more to offer when in 2014 he was handed a three yr extension. He made 21 appearances that season. In 2015 Jack helped the side to the finals but they were eliminated in the first playoff. The following season he made his rep debut when chosen for NSW Country in the annual City vs Country game

In 2017 Jack was again chosen for Country in what would be the final City vs Country match and then in May of that yr he was named in an extended Blues side to take on the Maroons in Game 1 of the State of Origin series. Also in 2017 he signed another extension deal to stay with the Dragons till 2020. He was then selected to play in all three games for the Blues in the 2018 SOO and was credited for being a key part of the Blues 2–1 series victory over the Canies.
 
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J

Justadragon

SGI Jersey Flegg
RedVHeartbeat said:
The Jack de Belin Story (up to 2018)
Jack de Belin played his junior footy for Cootamundra in Group 9 regional comp before signing with the Dragons and playing his first game in the iconic Red V jumper in the 2011 National Youth Competition where he made it into the team of the year squad.

He made his First Grade debut on 27 June 2011 against Manly, playing only three matches that year. But the grandson of a Kangaroo had more to offer when in 2014 he was handed a three yr extension. He made 21 appearances that season. In 2015 Jack helped the side to the finals but they were eliminated in the first playoff. The following season he made his rep debut when chosen for NSW Country in the annual City vs Country game

In 2017 Jack was again chosen for Country in what would be the final City vs Country match and then in May of that yr he was named in an extended Blues side to take on the Maroons in Game 1 of the State of Origin series. Also in 2017 he signed another extension deal to stay with the Dragons till 2020. He was then selected to play in all three games for the Blues in the 2018 SOO and was credited for being a key part of the Blues 2–1 series victory over the Canies.
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He should have been selected for more SOO's but obviously the selectors were against it, I suppose also for having the Dragons captaincy.
 
RedVHeartbeat

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Justadragon said:
He should have been selected for more SOO's but obviously the selectors were against it, I suppose also for having the Dragons captaincy.
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He was exonerated Jd. Almost three yrs of his career stolen. He still had the ability to play for both his state and country, so league bosses shudda given him a clean slate, instead they continued to demonize him.
 
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J

Justadragon

SGI Jersey Flegg
RedVHeartbeat said:
He was exonerated Jd. Almost three yrs of his career stolen. He still had the ability to play for both his state and country, so league bosses shudda given him a clean slate, instead they continued to demonize him.
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I dont agree with what he did RVH and the only people that should ever have the capacity to judge him and forgive him are his wife and his family, and they found it in their hearts to do so. Unfortunately in todays world its judgement by association and the perceived look, that whilst he wasn't guilty judgement had it that he could have been, and it cost him dearly and something that he will have to deal with for the rest of his life. Personally I believe he did the crime did the time and we all make mistakes and should at least be awarded a second chance, but not for Jack he was tainted and the mud stuck, sad really, I will certainly miss him with the RED V jumper.
 
D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
Justadragon said:
I dont agree with what he did RVH and the only people that should ever have the capacity to judge him and forgive him are his wife and his family, and they found it in their hearts to do so. Unfortunately in todays world its judgement by association and the perceived look, that whilst he wasn't guilty judgement had it that he could have been, and it cost him dearly and something that he will have to deal with for the rest of his life. Personally I believe he did the crime did the time and we all make mistakes and should at least be awarded a second chance, but not for Jack he was tainted and the mud stuck, sad really, I will certainly miss him with the RED V jumper.
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There is no point to my comment here because what eventuated with the absence of JDB in our playing squad from 2019 to his return (De Belin was named on 1 June 2021 to play his returning first grade match on 3 June 2021, which was a 52–24 victory over Brisbane at Kogarah Oval) happened, however, if it didn't happen and he played in those years, he might have saved Mary from being booted because I think that once all the drama of JDB was happening it would have affected the mindset of our players and 2019 was a year in which I thought we could improve on the result of 2018.

That's what I think. JDB should never have been out on that night and should have been home with his then pregnant wife at the time. I won't forgive him for that.
 
RedVHeartbeat

RedVHeartbeat

SGI NSW Cup
Dragon David said:
That's what I think. JDB should never have been out on that night and should have been home with his then pregnant wife at the time. I won't forgive him for that.
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DD I agree with that, but to deny him three yrs of his career and any chance to slip on a Kangaroo jumper like his grandfather Fred due to an immature alcohol driven mistake, was a gross injustice. Anyway that is now water under the bridge and this thread is to talk about the positive aspects of Bombers career. I can tell you we'd have won far fewer matches had we not had him for the past four years since his return. He is gonna be a hard act to follow and I too want him to return home in some coaching capacity after he hangs up the boots.
 
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D

Dragon David

SGI Jersey Flegg
RedVHeartbeat said:
DD I agree with that, but to deny him three yrs of his career and any chance to slip on a Kangaroo jumper like his grandfather Fred due to an immature alcohol driven mistake, was a gross injustice. Anyway that is now water under the bridge and this thread is to talk about the positive aspects of Bombers career. I can tell you we'd have won far fewer matches had we not had him for the past four years since his return. He is gonna be a hard act to follow and I too want him to return home in some coaching capacity after he hangs up the boots.
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Yes, I agree with you RVH. Jack deserves to be given credit for what he has done as a player for the Dragons - the club he dearly loves and would definitely have helped us win more games in the period he wasn't with us but also, as you say RVH since his return we would not have won as many matches as we did without him.

May Jack's last game with us be a great one that he can truly reflect back on during his retirement days.

All the best JDB and thanks for the memories.
 
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