Jack de Belin returns to work as focus turns to NRL comeback

The St George Illawarra forward played his first game in 987 days on Saturday, a reserve grade clash in front of around 1000 fans at Lidcombe Oval.

On Monday he walked into work ready to commence preparations for this weekend's match, just like every one of his teammates did.

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It's a feeling the former Origin forward hasn't experienced since 2018, de Belin sidelined under the NRL's no-fault stand-down policy while he faced sexual assault allegations.

With the charges officially dropped and his first match out of the way, the 30-year-old's focus has turned to returning to the top grade. Possibly as early as Thursday night.

"Going into NSW Cup on the weekend and watching him was probably a bit of a high for everyone to watch him play," Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said. "Today it was back to business.

"Most of the players were there Saturday watching him, it broke the ice Saturday's game. Today was just a good feeling for him to be able to walk in and go to NRL training and know he's available to play now."

De Belin was solid in 44 minutes in the Dragons loss to Western Suburbs, the forward clearly rusty but also a step above the other players on the field.

While he spent much of Monday training with the reserves, de Belin did join the top team for periods throughout the session, raising the possibility of a place on the bench for Thursday's clash with the Broncos.

Injured fullback Matt Dufty also joined the starting squad, wearing a non-contact bib as he looks to overcome a shoulder injury.

For Dragons teammate Paul Vaughan, just the fact that de Belin is even in consideration for Thursday night is credit to how hard he's worked over the past 2.5 years.

"I guess it would be pretty hard to be out for two years," Vaughan said. "The game's really fast now. If it was me, if I was out for two years, I don't know how I'd go. He's a freak of a player.

"I would assume he had a good run last week and if he's up to it, at the end of the day it's up to the coaching staff and Jacky and we'll see how his fitness levels go and if he's comfortable with it."

Expectations are low for de Belin during the early weeks and months of his comeback, however hopes are high he will eventually return to the form that saw him selected for NSW in 2018.

The addition of new rules are likely to suit the lock, with Griffin eager to see de Belin build towards his best.

"He's been out for a long time," Griffin said.

"He's just got to come back wherever he gets a chance or whenever he gets a chance, just get his job done and build from there.

"The expectation's more on just doing his job for the team, how good that looks or how well he plays, I think we just need to be a bit patient.

"I think the rules will suit him. Even the NSW Cup he said it felt really fast with the six agains, but he's an aerobic-based player. Even though he's a big man, he plays a lot of minutes, he gets off the ground really easily, he's got a nice economy of movement.

"Once he starts playing NRL and gets used to that speed, I think it'll suit him as a player."