NRL boss David Gallop has labelled Penrith's decision to stand down young hooker Masada Iosefa an appropriate first step, but warned further sanctions could follow.

Iosefa was stood down for one week by the Panthers after being charged by police with affray, resisting arrest and failing to leave a licensed premises following an incident at the Mean Fiddler Hotel in Sydney's northwest on Saturday night.

"We are still waiting for the facts to become a bit clearer, but it appears to be an appropriate first step by the club," Gallop said.

"We'll continue to monitor the situation over the next few days.

"I guess the message is that if you find yourself in these sorts of situations, you're not going to be playing footy, and that's a significant penalty."

The one-week sanction - which rules Iosefa out of next Monday night's home game against Gold Coast - gives both the Panthers and the NRL some breathing space as they assess the appropriate next course of action.

The NRL may be forced to step in however - with the Panthers indicating they will not review the penalty until after Iosefa faces court on May 5.

Penrith are scheduled to play in Canberra on May 2, a match Iosefa would be free to play in under the club's current sanction.

"We will review the matter only after the current court proceedings are concluded," Panthers chief executive Mick Leary said in a statement issued on Monday.

"Masada has a right to defend himself in relation to those matters and we would hope that he is able to do so."

Leary said 21-year-old Iosefa would "vigorously defend" the charges.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred after most of the Penrith first grade squad had gone to the Mean Fiddler on Saturday night to celebrate teammate Michael Jennings' looming 21st birthday.

It is alleged Iosefa and Jennings were amongst a group of men who returned to the premises after being asked to leave.

From there it is believed Iosefa became involved in an altercation with security guards.

Jennings was cleared by the club and police of any wrongdoing.

Leary said the only appropriate way to determine the charges was in the courts, but admitted Iosefa's actions amounted to high-risk behaviour that had brought the game and the club into disrepute.

"This club has high expectations of its players and the message across the game could not be clearer about the need to observe the codes of conduct that are in place," Leary said.

Gallop indicated he would again raise the issue of player behaviour at the next meeting of club chief executives.

"It's unrealistic to think that we won't have problems from time to time with young blokes and alcohol," Gallop said.

"What was a concern ... was the fact that again we had a situation where players involved in a Friday night game seem to be given a few days away from the club and that's when they get themselves in trouble and I do think we need to talk to the clubs about that."

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