Dragons say ill de Belin won’t play

St George Illawarra has overlooked forward Jack de Belin for a weekend trial match, saying the NSW forward has a virus.

There had been speculation de Belin would play despite facing aggravated sexual assault charges, but the club named their 28-man squad for the trial against Newcastle at Kogarah’s Jubilee Oval on Saturday night with de Belin missing.

The Dragons said in a statement: “Jack de Belin was sent home from training on Monday by the club medical staff with a virus and has been ruled out of this weekend’s game.”

Dragons coach Paul McGregor said: “Jack is unlikely to train too much this week after being sent home from training by the medical staff on Monday with an upper respiratory tract infection.”

The club said “player workload management” meant star forwards James Graham and Tyson Frizell would also sit out the match.

Despite being suspended until round three, new recruit Korbin Sims has been given special NRL clearance to play Newcastle and in the Charity Shield at Mudgee on March 2.

First-string Dragons to play on Saturday include Gareth Widdop, Paul Vaughan, Tariq Sims, Euan Aitken, Matt Dufty, Ben Hunt, Tim Lafai, Cameron McInnes and new buy Corey Norman.