The former St George Dragons fullback was charged this month with six counts of indecent dealing with a girl under 16, dating back to the early 1980s on the Gold Coast.

Defence solicitor Jessica Burke on Monday applied for her client’s charges to be immediately referred to the Mental Health Court.

She said Mr Langlands was “very unwell”, suffering from advanced dementia and his health had “deteriorated significantly in the last six months”.

“His cognitive abilities decline by the day,” she said, arguing there was no prospect of him appearing in court at any time.

Ms Burke abandoned a suppression order that was set to be made.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Carmont said he was not objecting to the matter being referred to the court but raised a question over whether the magistrate was legally able to do so at this stage of proceedings.

The matter was adjourned until 2.30pm, when a decision was expected to be handed down.

New South Wales police had laid the charges on behalf of Queensland’s Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Group.

The 76-year-old lives in a New South Wales nursing home and did not have to appear when the charges were first heard in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He was also not required to appear on Monday.

Mr Langlands’ family has pledged to defend the charges.