The long wait to play rugby league again could finally be over for banned North Queensland Cowboys halfback Robert Lui next week.

After stating Lui’s case in Sydney on Thursday night, Cowboys CEO Peter Jourdain is hopeful he will receive a verdict on their sidelined playmaker before the Australian Rugby League Commission formally meet again on August 8.

ARLC interim boss Shane Mattiske has given no time frame on when a decision would be made on Lui, who was banned indefinitely after being placed on a two-year good behaviour bond and fined $2000 in April for assaulting his girlfriend Taleah Backo after the Wests Tigers’ Mad Monday drinks last year.

But Jourdain hoped a call would be made sooner rather than later after presenting what he hoped was a compelling argument for Lui to return to at least Townsville club football this year.

Lui has received glowing praise for his volunteer work at prisons in north Queensland but the Cowboys hoped a psychologist’s report would help seal a return to the paddock.

“We have got a professional counsellor who says he is progressing well but would benefit from playing some sort of competitive rugby league,” Jourdain told AAP.

“He has not been able to play NRL – which is itself a punishment – but he’s also been out for 20 weeks.

“We think we are at a stage where enough is enough.

“We have put it to the Commission. They have a formal meeting on August 8 but there is a possibility they could make a decision before that.”

Jourdain said the club would not have approached the ARLC unless professional advice backed a rugby league return for Lui.

“We didn’t think it was appropriate to do so until he was at a stage of his rehab that he was ready to do that – based on that professional advice he is at that stage now,” he said.

“We are hopeful (of a return soon). He has continually done his counselling and his work in the community particularly around our correctional centre up here.

“We think it is appropriate that he plays (lower tier) Queensland Cup or in the local league – it would be good for him.”

But Jourdain thought the best gauge for Lui’s rehabilitation was the playmaker’s partner Backo.

The pair – who have a young son – have reunited and Backo has thrown her weight behind an NRL return for Lui.

“He is back with his partner and boy. They don’t understand why he can’t play footy at the moment either,” Jourdain said.

“They are trying to live their life.

“But I think the right thing to do would be to get him into some sort of football.”

Jourdain said Lui had been coping well throughout his rehabilitation.

“I think he has come through the process a better person,” he said.