Jack de Belin could become St George Illawarra’s most-capped player as he revealed hopes of playing on at the Dragons in 2026.
Veteran forward de Belin is out of contract at the end of the NRL season and will turn 35 in March.
De Belin was last year linked with a move to the Super League before signing a one-year deal for 2025, and it’s understood fresh contract talks between his management and the Dragons are in the early stages.
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The Dragons’ longest-serving active player, de Belin has been solid on a hot-and-cold Saints side this year and has no immediate plans to retire.
“I’m in a good mind frame, I’m really excited to play on,” he said ahead of Friday’s clash with Newcastle.
“I feel like my body’s in really good nick, I’ve been playing good football. I don’t see the (playing) future ending any time soon.”
Staying on at the Dragons could mean passing Ben Hornby’s mark of 273 games and becoming the joint venture’s most-capped player.
De Belin’s career has been mostly free of serious injuries and if he plays every regular-season game until the end of 2026, he’ll reach 275 first-grade appearances for the club.
That number could push even higher if the Dragons return to finals for the first time since 2018.
Having made his NRL debut with the Dragons back in 2011, de Belin said he “most certainly” wanted to remain at the Saints next season.
“It’s a fair honour to be able to say I’ve been a one-club player,” he said.
“I feel like I’m playing good footy to show that I’ve got plenty left in the tank.
“I bleed for this club, it’s the only club I’ve ever known. Hopefully we can keep it that way.”
De Belin has previously suggested his body feels fitter than his age might suggest, having spent two-and-a-half years out of the game facing sexual assault charges.
In 2021, he was acquitted on one count with four others dropped following two hung juries.
De Belin said he was reaping the rewards of years prioritising his health.
“First and foremost, train hard but then all my decisions I make off the field pretty much always correlate back to football, and will it make me a better player?” he said.
“In that sense, I honestly feel like I’m the utmost professional in all aspects of my life.”