Curtis Scott will have to front frustrated coach Ricky Stuart and the Canberra Raiders squad at training on Wednesday with his immediate NRL future balanced on a knife's edge.
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The NRL is still deliberating on which path to take with chief executive Todd Greenberg likely to make a decision next week on whether Scott is stood down as he prepares to face court.
Club officials including chief executive Don Furner have struggled to contact Scott after he allegedly hurled his phone at a car during a drunken night in Sydney.
Stuart is preparing to welcome his players back to pre-season training on Wednesday with Scott's off-field indiscretions set to hang over the group after he was slapped with multiple police charges.
The Raiders coach opted not to comment on the Scott situation but expressed his disappointment as the club looks to back up its grand final appearance.
The 22-year-old recruit will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on February 20 to face a string of charges after being arrested by NSW Police in Sydney on Monday morning.
Scott is facing two charges of assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, behaving in an offensive or indecent manner and remaining on trust lands after a request to leave.
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Stuart will leave any potential club sanctions in the hands of Furner and football manager Matt Ford.
The Raiders have traditionally taken a harsh stance towards poor off-field behaviour, with Todd Carney and Josh Dugan the highest-profile players to be axed in the past.
But Scott's future hinges on the outcome of his looming court case and an NRL investigation. Greenberg has the power to stand a player down at his own discretion.
Scott's indiscretions do not fall under the NRL's no-fault stand down policy but he could still be banned by Greenberg as he looks to erase poor player behaviour.
The Raiders have been on the receiving end of the governing body's stance in recent years after the NRL came over the top and stiffened a club-imposed ban on Jack Wighton in 2018.
Canberra officials proposed a six-week ban for Wighton following an alcohol-fuelled assault, before the NRL added four more games and a fine.
Wighton has since enjoyed a career-best year which led to state and international honours. Now he has set his sights on the NRL All Stars game after being named in the Indigenous All Stars for their clash with the Maori All Stars.
The NRL's long-term stance on Scott's indiscretion will likely hinge on the outcome of the court case, while the opening round of the season in mid-March gives Greenberg time to make a decision.
However Greenberg is unlikely to wait until the 11th hour to make a decision, as is the case with Josh Reynolds and Maika Sivo.