He was a big tough forward, renowned for his bone jarring tackles.

Now retired from the NRL, it was police lining up against Luke O'Donnell during an alleged domestic violence disturbance back in June.

The 38-year-old is fighting charges of intimidation, resisting arrest and assaulting a senior constable, as he responded to reports of a disturbance at a Clovelly apartment.

Luke O'Donnell is fighting charges of intimidation, resisting arrest, and assaulting a senior constable. (9News)

The former NRL player is renowned for his bone jarring tackles. (AAP)

Detective Inspector Anthony Macklin was the boss that day and was the last officer to arrive at the scene.

He says he tasered Mr O'Donnell when three officers struggled to handcuff him.

The Duty Officer from the Eastern Beaches Command told the court the former NRL player was "loud, offensive, hysterical... I had no way of getting him down because he was simply too strong".

O'Donnell allegedly told another officer "I will punch you in the head... I will take that Muslim beard and stick it up your ***".

Vision from the police taser and body camera were played in court and at times O'Donnell couldn't bring himself to watch it.

Mr O'Donnell was tasered as three officers tried to handcuff him. (9News)

He shook his head and glared at his parents on the other side of the room.

His mother wept as the confronting video was shown.

They were visiting Sydney from the South Coast when it happened and it was Mrs O'Donnell who called triple zero to get help for her son.

Now they appear to be estranged from him and are protected by an interim AVO.