Women's rugby league has been rocked on the eve of the national season, with a Parramatta player facing allegations she assaulted a neighbour.
Police allege 20-year-old Kate Fallon put a 17-year-old girl in hospital with head injuries last Wednesday after an incident at an apartment complex at Chifley, in Sydney's east.
The teenager was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital, where her father says she was treated with three stitches after suffering a 5cm gash to the head.
Parramatta and the NRL are aware of the incident, which has been revealed ahead of Thursday's NRLW season opener between Newcastle and the Sydney Roosters.
Police will allege the incident was related to a food order delivery, which the victim's father said involved his daughter knocking on neighbours' doors after not receiving a $70 order.
"(Fallon) said she never received it and knew nothing about it, and before you know it, (my daughter) has been stabbed in the head," the father, who was not identified by name, told Sydney radio 2GB on Wednesday.
"She said it all happened so quick, before she knew it she was fighting."
Police attended the apartment complex at about 1.30pm, and Fallon was arrested and taken to Maroubra police station.
She was released on a single charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Fallon is due to face Waverley Local Court on August 14.
She had been named in the reserves for Parramatta's round one clash with Brisbane, which is set to take place on Saturday.
"The Parramatta Eels are aware of an incident involving a player from our NRLW team," the club said in a statement.
"The club advised the NRL integrity unit as per our normal process ... as it is a police matter, the club will not be making further comment at this time."