Dragons forward Jack de Belin sees the fire behind teammates Zac Lomax and Junior Amone’s training bust-up as a good omen for the side heading into a make or break 2023 campaign.
Lomax and Amone had to be separated by teammates after a scuffle broke out at an open training session last week, but Lomax has seen it all before and believes it is a good sign for a hungry Dragons squad after a disappointing 2022 season.
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“I was flapping my gums on the sideline, I was subbed out,” de Belin said of the melee.
“I pretty much missed it all and then ran in when everyone was trying to break it up.
“It is definitely a headline grab, but at the end of the day it is a nothing story.
“I’ve been around for a dozen years now and I have seen that happen on numerous occasions, so it must have been a slow news week.
“If anything I think it is a good thing.. It means the boys care and there is plenty of passion and competitive spirit flying around the joint at the moment.
“When you have got two alphas like that coming up against each other things like that are expected to happen.
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“If you speak to Lomax you would think he was a world heavyweight boxing champion.
“But Junior is tough as nails and so is Lomax, so at the end of the day it is just two alpha males competing and things like that happen.
“Whatever happens on the field stays on the field and afterwards they can have a joke and a laugh about it and get on with it.”
The Dragons have missed the finals for two straight seasons under Anthony Griffin, but he believes the club are building towards something special in 2023.
“It has been fantastic. I can’t speak highly enough of it,” de Belin said of pre-season training to date.
“Just the feeling around the join has been exceptional and I think we are building towards something special.
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“I think all the boys have gone away and getting a break and then coming back with one goal in mind.
“That is success and excellence and that is a real clear focus at the moment and we are all united, so one team, one dream.”
The Dragons have lost a few players this off-season due to retirement and opportunities at other clubs, but de Belin believes the squad they have assembled can compete with the best.
“That’s professional sport and players always come and go and you lose great players, but that’s life and you just have to get on with it,” de Belin said.
“We have got a great team and I think we can do something really special.”
Despite the changes to the squad, de Belin believes the new additions to the club, including Jacob Liddle and Zane Musgrove, as well as the promising youngsters had reinvigorated the senior players.
“Yeah fantastic, I can’t speak highly enough of all the new boys and the young lads that have come in,” de Belin said.
“It has really given us old dogs a fresh perspective on things and they are pushing us and the club in the right direction.
“All the new signings I can’t speak highly enough of them.”
The Dragons finished last season with one of the worst defences in the competition and de Belin concedes it is an area they must improve in if they want to play finals in 2023.
“The first couple of weeks are about getting your conditioning base and getting your fitness, but I think our defence definitely has to improve,” de Belin said.
“So far it is tracking in the right direction.”
De Belin was shuffled between the back row and prop last season, but despite having designs on the No.13 jersey he is happy to put the goals of the team ahead of his own.
“I think lock is my best position, but at the end of the day I’m always going to do what is best for the team,” de Belin said.
“If I get asked to play in the centres, I would happily play in the centres. If I have to play hooker I will do whatever is needed.
“If I have to play up front I will do whatever is best for the team.”
One player de Belin is expecting big things from is fellow front row candidate Josh Kerr, provided he is used in the right way to play to his strengths.
“I reckon keep your eyes on Josh Kerr,” de Belin said.
“Even though he is not a new player he has been absolutely killing the pre-season so far and he has so much potential in him.
“If he is used correctly he could be devastating for us next year.”
