NRL: Hearing to decide Jennings' fate

Michael Jennings. Photo / Getty Images

Penrith are poised to stand star centre Michael Jennings down for the remainder of the NRL season after a second alcohol-related infringement of club policy.

Jennings was dropped from Friday night's clash against Wests Tigers after claims the NSW Origin representative turned up to the Panthers' Thursday evening training run showing the effects of alcohol.

The 23-year-old is due to turn out for the Windsor Wolves in the NSW Cup against Central Coast on Saturday.

But there is speculation he may be stood down for the remainder of the season when he faces a disciplinary hearing on Friday afternoon.

There is a belief the Panthers - under new general manager Phil Gould - have grown tired of Jennings' antics, after he was fined $10,000 in June for breaching club policy by consuming alcohol while injured.

Despite being called up by NSW selectors for the opening game of the State of Origin series, Jennings has struggled for form and fitness throughout 2011.

He was named NSW players' player after scoring a try in the series opener, but that four-pointer was his first of the season.

He has followed that with only one more try for Penrith, leaving him with a grand total of just two tries from 16 games for the Panthers, City Origin and NSW.

So poor was his form earlier this year that some teammates had privately raised concerns over his mental and physical state.

He was due to line up at fullback against the Tigers, partly out of necessity with Lachlan Coote and Michael Gordon both unavailable, but also in a bid to recapture the form of 2010 when he scored 16 tries in 25 games for the Panthers.

- AAP