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"Frustrating" uncertainty is clouding Jack de Belin's future at St George Illawarra and leaving the prop to fear for his dream of remaining a one-club player.
Last season, de Belin triggered an option in his $700,000-a-year contract to remain with the Dragons for 2024 but is currently free to negotiate with rivals for next year.
The middle forward has long maintained he feels fitter than his 33 years would suggest, having spent two-and-a-half years out of the game facing sexual assault charges. In 2021, he was acquitted on one count, with four others dropped following two hung juries.
In recent days, the highly-paid de Belin has been linked with a move to the Super League.
But despite his former Dragons teammates Matt Dufty, Adam Clune and Tariq Sims hyping the European competition up to him, de Belin feels he has unfinished business in Australia.
"I still feel like I've got plenty to offer in the NRL, to be honest," he said.
"Obviously the age is maybe a bit of a factor that might scare off a few people or clubs or even the Dragons, in a sense.
"(But) I'm pretty happy I've looked after myself, sacrificed plenty of nights out and partying. It's paying off now and still feel great. I've got a few years left at least."
Going into the season, the Dragons took a "wait-and-see" approach to de Belin's next contract, which would almost certainly come with a pay cut if offered.
De Belin is yet to discuss his future with first-year Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, who is set to continue reconfiguring the club's roster.
"It's a bit of a grey area, to be honest, which is frustrating," de Belin said of his future.
"I've always made my intentions (clear) to be a one-club man but at the moment I'm not too sure if that's the case."
De Belin would not be opposed to a move overseas if options ran out in the NRL, though that would mean relocating his young family to the other side of the world.
Choosing when to pull the trigger on a move to England can also be difficult in a professional sense, de Belin says.
"You do have a lot of things to be weighing up … do I go now while I'm still playing good or do I stay in the NRL while I'm still feeling good and definitely up for it?" he said.
"I've got a heap of mates over there and they reckon the lifestyle is really good.
"But to be honest, I love living down in Wollongong. It'd be hard to pack up and move but at the same time, it is what it is."
One thing is for sure: the former State of Origin representative is keen for clarity.
"I'd like to be able to sort out my future and know what's happening," he said.
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AAP