Canberra have refused to tear up Jack Wighton's NRL contract, vowing to stand by the Raiders fullback as he awaits sentencing for assault charges.
Wighton was stood down from Saturday night's 26-22 loss in Brisbane after pleading guilty to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three of common assault and one of public urination during a night out in February.
The 25-year-old will appear in court for sentencing on Wednesday.
The maximum penalty for assault occasioning actual bodily harm is a five-year jail sentence.
It is believed the Raiders board will meet on Friday to decide Wighton's NRL fate after sentencing.
His season appears over with Wighton facing a lengthy ban but Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said his future at the club was safe.
"Now it's about the process of letting Jack go to court and see what the sentencing is and our board will make a decision with regards to the punishment," Stuart said.
"You are talking to a club that has been at the forefront of the whole competition in regards to discipline of poor behaviour.
"But our chairman Allan Hawke has asked to pass onto the players (that) we have no intention whatsoever in tearing up Jack Wighton's contract.
"We will be looking after his welfare and rehabilitation."
Stuart refused to blame the Wighton controversy for their crucial loss on Saturday night after Canberra let a 16-0 halftime lead slip at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane pivot Anthony Milford proved the difference as the hosts piled on four second half tries to clinch a club record sixth straight win over Canberra.
It was a body blow to ninth-placed Canberra's finals hopes with eighth-ranked Brisbane now holding a three win break over the Raiders.
"It wasn't a distraction. I have a very tough bunch of kids there who handled the change late in the week," Stuart said of Wighton being stood down.
"It didn't have any bearing on the result. We should have won that game and it was our own doing with regards to why we didn't - you have to defend an error."
Brad Abbey made an impressive NRL debut as Wighton's fullback replacement, running 129m.
NSW hopeful, winger Nick Cotric, crossed again on Saturday night to become the third Raider to score in seven straight games after Noa Nadruku (nine straight, 1996) and Peter Jackson (eight straight, 1988).
Canberra's only fitness concern was back-rower Joe Tapine (concussion).
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