Jack de Belin will play his first game of rugby league in more than two years on Saturday, ending an exile from the sport while he defended rape charges that are set to be withdrawn.
St George Illawarra expect to register a new contract for de Belin with the NRL on Friday to begin his path back into first grade once the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions withdraws charges at a hearing.
It will bring to an end a tumultuous period for all involved in the high-profile case.
Two trials failed to reach a verdict on de Belin, 30, and co-accused, Callan Sinclair, 24, on charges relating to an alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in Wollongong in December, 2018.
The Wests Tigers are hoping Jackson Hastings can have a similar impact to Canberra’s signing of English stars Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead by becoming a circuit breaker for the club’s recruitment ambitions.
After falling short in attempts to sign the likes of Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr, the Tigers have been forced to target young talent for their rebuilding program but recent results are testing the patience of the club’s hierarchy.
The worst start to a season since former Parramatta CEO Denis Fitzgerald predicted in 1999 that “two struggling clubs getting together” would create a “struggling joint venture with no great long term future” has sparked speculation about the future of Tigers coach Michael Maguire.
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Sport by Dean Ritchie
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Subscriber only God help God. With these three words, long-serving Newtown Jets official Terry Rowney put the big fella on notice about welcoming to heaven the ultimate footy scallywag, Tommy Raudonikis. The cheeky comment brought laughter from a 500-strong gathering sitting in the famous SCG Members Pavilion on Monday during a memorial service for the legendary Wests and Newtown halfback and rascal, who died on April 7. It was an eclectic congregation, ranging from millionaires in suits and Cartier sunglasses to knockabouts wearing thongs, stubbies and Wests Magpies jumpers with VICTA splashed across the front - Tommy s kind of people.