Jack de Belin – The Full Truth Revealed

In Chimes’ biggest interview to date, Jack de Belin breaks his seven-year silence to provide a raw, unfiltered account of his journey through the legal system, his battle with cancer, and his recent departure from the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

The Arrest and the Lead Detective’s "Betrayal"

Reflecting on the day his life changed in 2018, Jack recalls the moment he walked into the police station under a false sense of security, believing he was there to simply assist with inquiries.

"I remember when I went up to the police station... I was under the impression that they'd just want to speak to me and I'd be sent on my way but as soon as I rolled into the office there... the detective came in and told me that I was under arrest."

On the lead detective who was recently sentenced for perjury after illegally accessing privileged messages, Jack was blunt about the lack of sympathy he felt.

"I wouldn't say I feel sorry for him because he put himself in this position… I get satisfaction when I seen him at court like he was a defeated broken man... and I'm still here standing strong."

The "Secret" Meeting with Todd Greenberg

Jack reveals exclusive details about a high-stakes meeting with then-NRL CEO Todd Greenberg before the "No-Fault Stand Down" policy was officially enacted. According to Jack, the NRL attempted to have him voluntarily step aside to avoid a rule change.

"This was meant to be a top secret meeting that only myself and the NRL knew about... he essentially said like 'we'd like you to stand down' and he handed me a piece of paper... he legit prepared a statement for me to stand myself down and I was just like 'No, no way, no for one second I'm going to stand myself down like I didn't do this.'"

Jack believes his refusal to sign that statement was the direct catalyst for the rule change. "That's essentially why they brought the stand-down policy in because I wouldn't stand myself down."

The Financial and Personal Toll

The legal battle wasn't just a mental strain; it was a massive financial burden. Jack estimates the cost of his defense was "pushing close to a million dollars." Beyond the money, the public perception was the hardest part to stomach.

"When it first happened I honestly thought like 'I'm never going to be able to show my face in public again.'"

Asked about the estimated personal cost, De Belin said, “yeah it’d be pushing close to a million dollars I think.” 

He also recounted the morning his home was raided by six or seven officers at 6:00 AM. With his and his pregnant wife's phones seized, he had to get creative to contact his legal team. "The way I actually let my lawyer know that my house had been raided was I had to get on my PlayStation and send an email from my PlayStation."

"When it Rains, it Pours": The Cancer Diagnosis

In 2020, while still fighting to clear his name, Jack was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He described the news as "unfathomable" given the amount of stress he was already under.

"Kind of unfathomable, you know what I mean? Like what else can go wrong? Yeah, I know it was a bit of a... when it rains it pours."

Despite the diagnosis, Jack chose not to undergo chemotherapy after being told there was a 10% chance of recurrence. "I was just like 'well I'm happy just to run the risk at 10% and not do chemotherapy.'"

The Day of the Verdict

After two grueling trials, the final resolution came during an everyday errand rather than a courtroom. Jack recalls the surreal moment the case finally ended:

"I went home and I think it was maybe like a month or so later and it was actually... it actually happened that I was hanging with Cal that day. We're in Kmart together and he got a call from his lawyer and his lawyer just said um 'they're dropping the charges. There's going to be it's done now.' So it was kind of fitting that I was actually with Cal that day in Kmart and that's when we found the news it was done."

This followed a frustrating second trial where a partial verdict left Jack confused and disappointed.

"We got one um verdict that day and got found not guilty on one of the charges... I always found it hard to believe. You know what I mean? It's either all or nothing case... I was super frustrated and disappointed because I wanted to have a proper not guilty on all charges.

The Dragons Departure: "A Big Slap in the Face"

After 15 years at the club, Jack was informed by coach Shane Flanagan and official Ben Haran that he would not be offered a new contract. He described the meeting as a moment of "massive disrespect."

"I feel like it was a massive disrespect there and it was... a big slap in the face for someone who's served the club for 15 years to be told 'no it's not going to be happening.'"

"When I got sat down in that office there with Ben Haran and Shane Flanagan and told they weren't going to be offering me a contract... I pretty much had to just get up and leave, I was on the verge of crying."

Barbecue-Gate and the $42,000 Fine

Jack addressed the infamous "Barbecue-Gate" during COVID-19, which led to a massive fine from the NRL. He revealed that he was unable to pay the fine upfront.

"It was a very pricey barbecue that's for sure and yeah... I couldn't pay for it, I couldn't afford it so I had to get a payment plan out to get it paid off throughout my contract."

Regarding the persistent rumors that he hid under a bed when police arrived at the gathering, Jack remained cryptic. "If you were to read the newspapers and believe the media I was hiding under a bed... you'll have to find out at a later date [if that is true]."

Watch the full, exclusive interview on Fanatics TV.

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