The NRL future of Wests Tigers forward Kyle Lovett is in limbo after he kept secret from the club drug charges for a month.

The club was on Saturday in damage control after the forward admitted he was due to appear in court early next month.

In a statement, the Tigers said Lovett had been found in possession of a small quantity of a prohibited substance on December 23 however only made club officials aware of the matter on Saturday.

The 23-year-old will face court on February 1 with the club saying they were “incredibly disappointed with Lovett and do not in any way condone his behaviour”.

Lovett is contracted until the end of 2017 however it was rumoured the club were attempting to force him out in a bid to ease salary-cap pressure.

The club were caught off guard by the revelation on Saturday and alerted the NRL integrity unit.

Lovett has not been stood down, with his fate not to be decided until after his court hearing in a week-and-a-half.

West Tigers Statement on Kyle Lovett police charge | https://t.co/0vmFSxuIEd #NRL pic.twitter.com/mpvzZAms4l

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“Wests Tigers ensure that all players and staff receive the highest level of education in relation to drugs,” the club said.

“The club takes the welfare and education of its players very seriously.”

The Leichhardt junior has made 43 appearance for the Tigers since his debut in 2015.