SYDNEY - The Dragons stood by centre Wes Naiqama yesterday after he was found guilty and sentenced to periodic detention for driving while disqualified.
St George-Illawarra said Naiqama would remain with the club "at this stage", with an appeal against the severity of the sentence scheduled for May22.
"At this stage, Wes will continue to train and play with the Dragons," the club said. "Given that this is still before the courts, it is not appropriate for the club to make any further comment."
Naiqama was yesterday named in the Dragons' side to play South Sydney in Saturday's Charity Shield at Telstra Stadium. He was expected to serve his detention on Wednesdays and Thursdays from March 8, leaving him free to play at weekends, his lawyer said outside court.
Last November, Naiqama, 24, was photographed by the Daily Telegraph as he got behind the wheel of a car in Surry Hills, in eastern Sydney. He had been suspended from driving until 2013 after being caught driving while disqualified in 2005.
He pleaded guilty to the latest charge of driving while disqualified - his fourth - in December. Magistrate Chris Longley suspended Naiqama's licence for a further two years before handing down a sentence of 12 months' periodic detention, with a six-month non-parole period.
Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes will unleash Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan and Wille Tonga in Saturday's final trial against the Warriors despite losing fellow international Matt Utai to an ankle injury in a meaningless hit-out.
Kiwis winger Utai should be fit for the start of the NRL season despite straining the medial ligament in his right ankle, while five-eighths Daniel Holdsworth will most likely skip the trial at North Harbour Stadium.
Folkes, asked if his internationals would return, said: "I'll probably play most of them."
He will also push ahead with Sonny Bill Williams' restricted playing schedule. The Kiwi star will be given added match time against the Warriors after a successful 40-minute stint in the Dogs' 26-16 win over the Dragons last week.
"It was just good for him to get out and play," Folkes.
"He probably would have liked to have played more but we'll just take small steps at this stage and give him a little bit longer next week."
