NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg says the Federal Court decision for Jack de Belin's case is "imminent" and wants the process to be dealt with quickly so that the league can move on.
"I think the decision is imminent. I'd be surprised if we don't get a decision by next week," Greenberg told ABC Grandstand on Friday evening.
"I wouldn't say I'm nervous. I'd like to have it completed — all I can do is do what I think is best for the game and to do that I've got to protect the game."
De Belin has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges and is not allowed to play any NRL games until that matter is finalised, although he can still train with the team and is receiving full pay.
Speaking ahead of the start of the NRL's Magic Round in Brisbane, Greenberg defended his handling of the De Belin case, which led to him testifying for a day and a half in the witness box.
Among his evidence to the court was a statement that women had shared with him their decisions not to play the game because of the alleged conduct of some male players.
"Sometimes those decisions [to crack down on behaviour] don't prove popular. I think people confuse leadership and popularity sometimes — they're very different commodities," he said.
"A lot of the things I do aren't popular, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're wrong."
However, Greenberg said his position would still be tenable even if the policy was thrown out by the court.
"We'd have to assess the court's rulings, and clearly you have to follow what the courts say," he said.
"We've done a lot of work on this. Our intent is to provide a protective jurisdiction for the game.
"We'll have to decide what we do after the court makes their ruling."
Greenberg said in retrospect he would have acted faster and made decisions quicker, but wanted to focus on the game itself.
"I'd prefer not to be talking about player behaviour. I'd much prefer the quality of what we've seen on the field in the first eight rounds.
"Ideally we wouldn't have players charged with very serious criminal offences in the first place."
