There is so much noise about what change might or might not be coming at the Dragons. De Belin has an option in his favour for 2024,but does not view next year as his swansong.

“I haven’t got a magical number in my head,but I had three years out of the game,so I’d like to add three years at the other end,” de Belin said.

“In that time off I looked after my body. I’m a young 32,and still feel fantastic body wise.”

De Belin faced sexual assault charges following an incident at the end of 2018 and became the first player sidelined under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy.

He challenged the ruling in the Federal Court and lost. After two separate court hearings,de Belin was acquitted on one count of sexual assault,while four other related charges were dropped after two juries could not reach a verdict.

Fellow Dragon Talatau Amone was briefly stood down over the summer when charged with a hammer attack on a roofing contractor. Once it emerged his potential punishment would fall short of a minimum 11 years in jail,the threshold to enforce the NRL’s rule,he was allowed to resume playing.

De Belin will forever be disappointed he became the game’s test case,but also appreciated the new rule,saying:“I understand they need to protect their brand and image.”

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