Canberra coach Ricky Stuart hopes for a quick resolution to Tom Starling's legal battle following his arrest for allegedly assaulting a police officer on the NSW Central Coast over the weekend.
Starling is the second Raiders player this year to be charged with assaulting a police officer and Stuart said the club would rally around him, as they did with Curtis Scott.
Scott was arrested in January but police assault charges were dropped in September after a Sydney magistrate was shown bodycam footage of the incident.
However, Stuart said the court process deeply affected Scott and the club is now aware of how to support Starling, who is in a similar situation.
"It affected Curtis last year too, the drag on of the court system and the embarrassment of it," Stuart said on Monday.
"I hope it doesn't drag on again this year for Tommy's sake.
"As a club we've got to move forward but we'll certainly support Tommy going on what he told me yesterday and telling me the truth, which is all I ask for."
On Saturday night, Starling was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer during a brawl at a bar in Kincumber.
He was charged with assaulting an officer in the execution of his duty, affray and resisting or hindering an officer.
Starling was due to report for pre-season training with the Raiders on Monday but has been given the day off to recover.
Stuart has been in contact with the 22-year-old who is "shaken up" from spending a night in lock up and also has injuries to his face.
"I only spoke to him via phone (on Sunday) but he was shaken up and disappointed because it's not in his nature," Stuart said.
"It'll go before the courts now and they'll handle it and hopefully it doesn't drag on for too long for our sake and the game's sake.
"I'm all about the game too, there's been headlines over the last month or six weeks that are not good for our game and I hope we can put to it bed quickly."
Starling does not qualify for the NRL's automatic 'no fault' stand down policy, with any suspension at the discretion of chief executive Andrew Abdo.
The NRL's Integrity Unit is also investigating the incident.
