Exiled St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin could be cleared to return from his indefinite suspension before the NRL season restarts after the coronavirus hiatus, according to reports.

De Belin was the first player banned under the NRL’s controversial no-fault, stand-down policy last February.

The policy, introduced under ex-ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie, allows the NRL to indefinitely suspend any player charged with an offence carrying a maximum jail sentence of 11 years or more.

De Belin is facing five sexual assault charges stemming from an alleged incident involving a woman in December, 2018.

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His trial, alongside co-accused Shellharbour Sharks player Callan Sinclair, was initially due to commence in February but was rescheduled to early November before the COVID-19 crisis hit.

Having already missed the entire 2019 season, De Belin’s case is now almost certain to be pushed back to 2021 due to further delays in the court system caused by social distancing rules.

As first reported by News Limited, De Belin is seeking an in-person meeting with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg in a bid to have his suspension lifted.

But the Dragons and NSW lock’s biggest hope of a 2020 return lies in the Rugby League Players Association’s (RLPA) legal challenge of the no-fault, stand-down policy.

The RLPA will argue the NRL violated the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) after failing to consult them before implementing its powers to suspend players before a legal matter has been decided by the courts.

An independent arbitrator will hear the matter in the coming weeks, with News Limited reporting a decision could be reached by the end of April.

If the RLPA prevails, new CEO Clint Newton will push for the policy to be immediately eradicated, clearing the way for the off-contract De Belin to immediately return.

De Belin challenged the no-fault, stand-down policy in the Federal Court in 2019 but withdrew his case in August.

Meanwhile, new ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys this week boldly declared the NRL competition could resume as early as June.

The season was suspended last month after just two rounds due to the coronavirus.