De Belin's trial on charges of aggravated sexual assault was due to begin in March but was delayed, with his next appearance in Wollongong Court scheduled for June 22.

Should a new trial date be set it would leave the 29-year-old facing the prospect of sitting out another full season after he was stood down under the NRL's controversial no-fault stand-down policy in February last year.

He's continued to train with the Dragons on full pay as he awaits the outcome of his case, with suggestions his continued presence has divided the playing group. They're not new suggestions, but McInnes teed off on the reports on Thursday.

"Whoever's come out with that is pretty insulting and as a playing group we're pretty pissed off about that," McInnes said.

"Jack's gone through a lot over the last couple of years and all he's done day in, day out is come to training, do whatever's asked of him and do his best to help us prepare week in, week out.

"Everyone's got a theory of why we're not winning and why we're not performing and that's rugby league, that's high performance sport. You've got to win and, if you don't, questions are asked.

"We all get that. I'm not shocked by it but for someone who has absolutely no knowledge of what actually happens in here, other than just making things up, to heap more pressure on somebody that's already gone through a lot... to be honest it's pretty disgusting.

"It shows the lengths people will go to to almost kick a dog when they're down. I'm pretty disgusted by it to be honest."

READ MORE: McGregor survives the axe despite dismal start

Players and staff have admitted the ongoing saga was a distraction through a dismal 2019 campaign that saw the club sink to a 15^th place finish.

Injuries and poor form of big-name stars were also a factor and McInnes said anyone using the de Belin as an excuse for an 0-4 start to this season were just looking for an out.

"It's been going on for two years, anybody that wants to use that as distraction is just looking for excuses," McInnes said.

"Every week when a team's picked there's guys on the cusp who miss out and they go into the second team and their job is to prepare the first grade team to play that weekend.

"We have Jack who, last time he played was one of the best forwards in the game, doing that. Each week he's helping us prepare.

"When you're looking for excuses, you're never going to get the job done. I can't speak from everybody's heart and what they're thinking but if there's someone in our group thinking 'I wish Jack was out there' you're wishing for things that we have no control over.

"He's not available right now. It's as simple as that."

McInnes also threw his support behind under-fire coach Paul McGregor who survived the axe following a snap board meeting on Tuesday.

He remains under a mountain of pressure but McInnes said the players need to put their hand up and accept the blame for his side's predicament, especially Monday's 22-2 defeat to the Bulldogs.

"I apologised [to McGregor] for the team's performance because I know how hard he works and I know how hard the coaches work," McInnes said.

"I thought we owe him more than we produced and I believe in my heart that it's not a coaching staff problem. I get that it's an easy excuse or solution to think they're the ones who need to change but we're the ones of the field.

"For him to be the scapegoat of our situation is unfair and I'm glad the stance the club's taken is a strong one and, I think, the right one.

"There's a lot of us not performing to our potential, but people aren't speaking about it as much because all the pressure's on Mary and that's the type of guy he is. He takes pressure off other people, that's why we're so passionate about taking some pressure off him now with the way we play."