The NRL is yet to reach a verdict on the length of Raiders fullback Jack Wighton's club-imposed ban after Canberra handed down a six-week suspension to the troubled star.
The Raiders board recommended that Wighton should miss six games for pleading to guilty to five charges of assault and one of public urination, including the two he has already missed.
The NRL met on Monday night to discuss the appropriate suspension Wighton should face, and the delay in their announcement has created the feeling they believe the tabled six-week ban was not a harsh enough penalty for his indiscretions.
The NRL have previously come down hard on players for disgraceful off-field behaviour. Eels forward Kenny Edwards was released from the league earlier this year for driving with a suspended license.
In 2016, Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce copped an eight-game ban and $125,000 fine for his controversial Australia Day antics while a member of the Roosters.
Broncos prop Matthew Lodge was sacked by the Wests Tigers for his drunken New York offences in 2015, only re-entering the league this season.
The Raiders have been known to whack players for acting up, previously letting go ofย Todd Carney, Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson, but are treating Wighton's breach as his first.
In other news, Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin is excited to begin his career for the English Super League'sย Warrington Wolves.
"I'm going over to play good footy and hopefully bring some success to Warrington," he toldย The Canberra Times.
"I think if I went over there with any other mindset I might struggle and miss home too much so it's going to be important to play good footy there and be contributing to Warrington.
"My career was hovering for a while before I came here [to Canberra]. I think it's been a good mutual relationship.
"I think I've brought plenty to the club and on the flipside the club's certainly done plenty for me."
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