Under the terms of his $1.2 million deal, the Panthers must keep paying the top player who is on the bench.

In a major legal victory, Penrith Panthers centre Taylan May has prevented the club from holding a second hearing that would have led to his expulsion.

Due to allegations of domestic abuse, May is presently on the NRL’s no-fault stand-down list and could have his contract terminated by the Panthers.

Due to prior instances, the club had already given him a show cause notice and scheduled a formal hearing for next week to terminate his employment.

However, May claimed that the second hearing violated his rights as a professional athlete and won an injunction from the federal court in Sydney on Friday. The ruling ends the hearing process and significantly changes the nature of the dispute.

May is anticipated to file a lawsuit against the Panthers for how they handled his case, which would make it more difficult for the team to be ready for a fourth straight premiership.

May was suspended by the NRL in late May after allegations of domestic abuse. He is charged with hitting his wife Jessica May on April 8 during a fight and then stalking her after that.

May has entered a not guilty plea to the three counts of offenses linked to domestic abuse.

The Panthers have decided to pause their review of a salary cap relief application. In accordance with his $1.2 million two-year contract extension signed in March, the club is required to pay May.

The first show cause notice that May was given was centered on other off-field transgressions, such when he posted a video of himself driving a car at 96 mph in a residential neighborhood on Instagram, rather than the domestic abuse charges.