The partner of Kiwi league international Shaun Kenny-Dowall allegedly went to the Sydney Roosters asking for money before she made domestic violence allegations against him, a court has heard.
Kenny-Dowall high profile lawyer Chris Murphy told a Sydney court that Jessica Peris, the daughter of Australian Olympic gold medallist turnedLabour senator Nova Peris, approached the Roosters after the pair separated.
He added it was also a month before she told police Kenny-Dowall had allegedly attacked her seven times between October 2014 and June 2015.
Kenny-Dowall has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm and six counts of common assault.
He was also charged with stalking, harassment and ¬destroying property and was not required in court.
Mr Murphy told the court the only physical injury Ms Peris, a sprinter, had was a bruise on her arm which she had told a friend was caused by dropping a weight while training.
He also said there were thousands of text messages between the pair but none showed Ms Peris complaining of violence or Kenny-Dowall threatening her.
"These two people lived more by text message than together," he said.
