A Brisbane woman says she was left bleeding and abandoned with a fractured eye socket from an alleged assault by South Sydney NRL star Ben Te'o.
The Auckland-born rugby league forward strongly denies the allegations and won't be stood down by the Rabbitohs for their clash with Cronulla on Monday night.
The woman made an initial approach to police, who attended the scene of the alleged assault and, while those allegations have since been formally withdrawn, it is understood she is still considering whether to press charges.
The alleged assault took place on April 20, the night after the Australia-New Zealand Test was played in Canberra.
It was at the home of a Brisbane Broncos player where the woman alleges she was hit by Te'o, when he entered a room where she was with a Newcastle player.
She alleges Te'o punched her in the face and continued to hit her while she was on the ground, and that all three players then left the house as she fell unconscious.
In a written statement, Te'o disputes acting improperly and it is understood he phoned police to report the incident.
Te'o informed the Rabbitohs of the incident on the following Monday, more than four weeks ago.
The South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson says the decision not to stand down the 26-year-old had not been made with competition points in mind.
An independent investigator has been enlisted to assist the NRL's integrity unit, who will investigate the matter.
