St George Illawarra Dragons prop Jack de Belin is keen to play his role if given the chance against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Monday.
The Cootamundra Bulldogs junior is presently in the midst of recovering from a shoulder injury sustained while on duty with the NSW Country Origin team and is scheduled to return in Round 16.
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However, de Belin has hopes of returning earlier if given the all clear by Club medical staff to help avenge the golden-point loss inflicted by their upcoming opponents in the Elimination Final last season.
“I’m currently overcoming my shoulder injury but I’m hoping to be back before my scheduled date against the Newcastle Knights in Round 16 ,” said de Belin.
“I will need to discuss with our medical staff to see where I am at before any plans are made though.
“When I originally saw the surgeon he informed me to prepare for six-to-eight weeks on the sideline and we are over the halfway point now and I’m coming along really well.
“Hopefully it won’t be too long now before I return.
“I thought after I did it that it while with NSW Country that being so severe it would require me to have surgery and I’d be out for the year but to be able to play again this year is outstanding.
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“I either had the option to have the surgery now or rehabilitate it and aim to be back in eight weeks and see how it is at the end of the year before probably getting surgery.
“The loss against the Bulldogs in that game really hurt and the way we lost in golden point was pretty disappointing.
“I would love to get back out there and put it to their forward pack if given the all clear.
“I’ve tried to bury it and put the game aside in my mind and concentrate on this year and the weeks ahead.”
