Few towns are celebrating the NSW Blues’ State of Origin series win harder than Cootamundra after a stirring Game II performance from their home-town hero, Jack de Belin.
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The St George Illawarra Dragons forward was restricted to 46 minutes during the Blues’ 22-12 victory in Game I but came out firing against the Maroons on Sunday night, racking up 33 tackles and five powerful runs during his 59 minutes on the paddock.
Donning the number 13 jersey for just the second time at Origin level, de Belin made a game-changing play at ANZ Stadium after producing a monster hit on Queensland halfback Ben Hunt in the second half.
It’s been a whirlwind journey for de Belin since the 27-year-old was denied his first NSW jersey during the 2017 series loss.
The former Cootamundra Bulldogs junior toiled tirelessly at club level this year to make his case for Origin selection and overcame chronic hip pain in the lead up to his debut in Game I.
Now, de Belin will down in history as a key member of Brad Fittler’s ‘Baby Blues’.
“I’m over the moon to be honest,” de Belin said.
“Everything’s died down a little bit now but (Sunday) night was just unreal and we celebrated pretty hard.”
De Belin said his second taste of Origin football was “more intense” than his debut but paid tribute to his NSW team mates for grinding out the four-point win.
“Queensland really came out firing (in Game II) … but we mashed them up in the middle and did well to wrestle the game off them,” de Belin said.
The barnstorming forward expressed his desire to return home to Cootamundra and share his Origin success but will be hard pressed to do so with a packed NRL season ahead.
“I’d love to get back (to Cootamundra) and hopefully I can do that soon … but the priority is on club now and we’re definitely looking at getting a premiership for the Red V (St George Illawarra Dragons),” de Belin said.
“2018’s been a good year so far so hopefully we can keep going with it and I’d love a chance to represent Australia further down the track.
“I’d just also like to say thanks to everyone back home for supporting me.”
