FORMER rugby league player Rhys Wesser could face jail after he was charged with ­assaulting a woman during a domestic dispute at his apartment on grand final night.

Wesser, an ex-Penrith Panther, is accused of leaving Simone Kenmore bruised and beaten after a violent assault in which police allege he dragged her down stairs.

Police allege Ms Kenmore, 36, suffered bruising and swelling to her arms and that she had been held down by her neck.

Wesser, a 36-year-old former State of Origin star and Rabbitoh, was listed to appear at Newtown Local Court last Monday, where his lawyer ­entered pleas of not guilty to two counts of domestic ­violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The charges carry a penalty of up to five years in jail.

Court documents state Wesser was ­arrested at 4.45am on October 5 after police were called to his unit on King St in Newtown by concerned neighbours who reported hearing yelling.

Police will allege Wesser and Ms Kenmore had been drinking together since noon on October 4 at a Newtown pub.

Ms Kenmore told police she had been staying with Wesser and was planning to return home to Adelaide after the weekend.

media_camera Rhys Wesser training with the Rabbitohs.

media_camera Rhys Wesser with son Joseph Wesser.

When they returned to Wesser’s apartment, an argument broke out about something that happened earlier that day. A police source said neighbours in the unit block called police after becoming concerned about what they could hear happening in Wesser’s apartment.

Ms Kenmore initially ­refused to give police her ­account of the incident and was taken to the station, where police applied for an apprehended violence order, the source said.

Ms Kenmore allegedly had bruising and swelling to both arms and had been held down by her neck, the source said.

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She later told police what she alleged to have happened and Wesser was charged.

According to police, Ms Kenmore was allegedly dragged down a set of internal stairs.

She is understood to be active in the Aboriginal rights movement.

Wesser retired from first grade rugby league in 2011 after a distinguished career in which he won a premiership with the Panthers in 2003.

It is understood Wesser will not be used as a casual ambassador by the NRL’s One Community Program while the case in ongoing.

He will continue in his role as an indigenous mentor with Souths Cares pending the outcome of court proceedings.

Souths said Wesser “should be afforded the presumption of innocence”.