DRAGONS Origin hopeful Jack de Belin says it’s disappointing Canterbury’s City-Country snub has overshadowed the build up to what will be the final instalment of the traditional clash at Mudgee in two weeks’ time.
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The Bulldogs have drawn widespread condemnation for their decision to pull their players from the contest, citing a short turnaround into their round 10 clash with North Queensland, with many calling on the NRL to force the club into a back down.
ARLC chairman John Grant said on Wednesday that the NRL did not have the power to force the Bulldogs hand, with the decision likely to stand unchallenged.
De Belin made what many considered a long overdue debut for Country last season, earning players’ player honours in a 44-30 defeat at Tamworth. The Cootamundra Bulldogs product missed the next five weeks with a torn rotator cuff but said he wouldn’t hesitate to pull on the jumper again this season.
“It means a lot to me having grown up in the country and played my junior footy out there,” de Belin said.
“I wouldn’t be standing here right now if it wasn’t for the Cootamundra Bulldogs. It was a great honour and, especially being the last year, I’d love to be a part of it again.”
While he understands the Bulldogs concerns, de Belin said it will be a tough pill to swallow for some of the club’s rep aspirants.
“I can see where they’re coming from but at the same time I can see the selfishness of it in terms of players wanting to earn a representative jumper or be able to further their careers,” de Belin said.
“It’s probably holding some guys back a little bit but at the same time, club footy’s the number one priority. there’s a lot of different factors weighing into it so I’m not sure what the go is there.
“You do risk injury and I suppose for coaches if players are sustaining injuries in a game where you’re not playing for the club it probably hurts a little bit more.
“I missed a month last year because of my shoulder from that game but at the end of the day all the boys want to be playing in that game so you’ve got to let them.”
De Belin’s Dragons teammates Paul Vaughan, Tariq Sims and Euan Aitken are all Country incumbents while Joel Thompson is also mounting a strong case for a recall and Cameron McInnes is in line for a City call-up.
Five-time Country rep Sims said being part of the time-honoured fixture’s swansong would be a big honour.
“I love playing for Country,” he said.
“I’ve played in every game since coming into first grade, and being it’s the last year I’d love to be there again.”