His lawyers would appeal and seek to have Packer released on bail pending the hearing, Australian Associated Press reported.
Packer played for the New Zealand Warriors in 2013 and had joined the Newcastle Knights on a four-year deal, though the club had yet to register his contract.
The NRL has suffered numerous negative public relations incidents in recent years with players involved in allegations of assault and anti-social behaviour.
The league was also implicated in a wide-ranging investigation into drug use in Australian sport last year.
The NRL provisionally fined the Cronulla Sharks A$1 million ($898,200) last month and suspended coach Shane Flanagan for a year for exposing players to significant risk through their supplements programme, which was investigated by anti-doping authorities. ($1 = 1.1133 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury. Editing by Patrick Johnston)
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