The lure of an NRL premiership has helped Dragons forward Jack de Belin hit the reset button, after admitting he struggled to adjust mentally in the sky blue afterglow of State of Origin success.
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St George Illawarra are preparing for a Sunday blockbuster at Allianz Stadium against title rivals the Roosters. And de Belin said a top four finish was the next goal, as a launching pad to finals glory.
But de Belin, who continues to have ongoing treatment on a hip injury this season, reveals the emotional letdown of claiming a breakthrough Origin series win with NSW had been difficult.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it’s been pretty hard,” he said after training at WIN Stadium on Wednesday.
“You’re on such a high and you kind of reach the pinnacle of Australian sport, in rugby league definitely.
“It was a little bit different coming back to club footy. You feel you've reached the top of the mountain and what's there to do now?
“But it takes a week or two and you're back and want to do something special with the Dragons.”
With six rounds remaining, St George Illawarra meet the Roosters then the Warriors at WIN Stadium, before tackling the Eels, Tigers, Bulldogs and Knights. It means all four of their opponents in the last month could be out of finals contention, unless Wests can continue an unlikely late-season march into the top eight.
De Belin said the Dragons had learnt from the heartbreak of last year’s round 26 loss to the Bulldogs, which cost them a playoffs spot.
“We’re not kidding ourselves,” he said.
“We set a goal at the start of the year to be top four and we’re sitting in a good position at the moment.
“Destiny is in our own hands, I suppose.
“Last year we were in a good position and didn’t make finals, but this year we can do a lot better.
“We’ve learnt from our past mistakes.”
Roosters forward Boyd Cordner suffered a shoulder injury in the victory over Manly on Sunday, but de Belin knows the level of toughness the NSW Origin captain has, after defying the odds to play in game three earlier month with a calf problem.
“He was pretty beat up,” de Belin said.
“I’m surprised he played and he did well to tell you the truth.
“He was forever getting treatment, icing it cryo(therapy), he was the ultimate professional.
“He’ll be the exact same with the Roosters. If he’s playing, he’ll be performing.”
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
