The arrest threatens to overshadow the Dragons first game in Wollongong this year, the side to take on fierce rivals Cronulla at WIN Stadium on Thursday night.

St George Illawarra and the NRL are still awaiting further details from police before making a decision on Burgess' availability.

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The forward was granted bail on Monday and is due to face court on April 13.

The club named Burgess in the wider 24-man squad on Tuesday afternoon, however he was not listed in the 17.

"The Dragons are yet to receive the necessary and required information pertaining to the Burgess matter and therefore cannot come to a decision on the player's availability for Round 3," a club statement said.

"The NRL's stringent team selection process requires the Dragons to select a 24-man squad on Tuesday afternoon.

"The Dragons will continue to work closely with all relevant parties, including the NRL integrity unit and police, to determine the next steps surrounding this matter."

Burgess' arrest comes less than a week after he made his Dragons debut in Friday's loss to Penrith, his first game in the NRL in more than two years.

The Englishman was charged on Monday night in relation to an incident that allegedly occurred in Mascot on March 8.

The NRL is also awaiting further details from police before making a decision on whether to stand the forward down. A decision is expected to be made in the next 48 hours.

Burgess' charge does not meet the NRL's threshold to automatically trigger the no-fault stand-down policy.

The league does, however, have discretionary power to suspend the forward under the policy that was introduced in 2018.

Speaking at the launch of this weekend's multicultural round, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the situation will be reviewed in the coming days.

"Once we have reviewed all the facts we will make a decision on whether we will invoke the no-fault stand-down policy," Abdo told reporters on Tuesday.

"Before we pass judgment or even provide opinion on a matter like this, I think it is very important you understand exactly what has happened as much as you can.

"Obviously this is a matter that has been charged by police, and we need to review the charge sheet.

"Typically what we do in criminal matters is allow natural justice and the criminal process to unfold.

"Whether or not we invoke the no-fault stand-down policy, we will need to carefully consider."

The Dragons will be without Andrew McCullough on Thursday night, however the hooker's elbow injury is not as serious as initially feared and he remains a chance of lining up in round four.

Moses Mbye will start in his place this week, while Jackson Ford and Jack Gosiewski have been elevated to the bench.

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