Stood down Dragons forward Jack de Belin will remain with the club beyond his current contract pending the outcome of his criminal trial on sexual assault charges.
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In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the club confirmed de Belin has agreed to terms to remain in Wollongong when his contract expires in November when his trial on sexual assault charges is scheduled to begin.
The move spurns interest from the Warriors who were set to make a big money play for the former Blues lock despite the fact he's spent two seasons on the sidelines facing the serious criminal charges.
"The Dragons can confirm that de Belin has agreed in principle to re-sign with the Dragons beyond the 2020 season, pending the outcome of his imminent court matter," the statement read.
"The terms of de Belin's contract will remain confidential while the matter remains before the court."
The Dragons have continued to pay de Belin his full $600,000 salary whilst he's been stood down under the NRL's no-fault stand-down policy implemented in February last year.
He and co-accused Callan Sinclair are scheduled to face trial on November 2 after a judge last week ruled against pre-trial orders sought by their respective legal teams.
The pair stand accused of sexually assaulting a young woman inside a North Wollongong unit block during a night out in December 2018. Both have pleaded not guilty to a total of five charges.
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De Belin is yet to indicate whether he will appeal last week's decision allowing the case to proceed to trial, which would come two days after his current contract with the Dragons expires.
In a separate matter, the Dragons have also moved to quash speculation that they're attempting to off-load big-money halfback Ben Hunt after reports emerged linking him to a return to Brisbane.
The statement labeled those reports as "completely inaccurate" and that the club "has never discussed the prospect of releasing the Queensland and Australia representative to another club."
Hunt remains contracted to the Red V until at least the end of the 2023 season.
