St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin could find himself in jail for life if he's convicted of an upgraded rape charge that will be laid in from of him in court on Wednesday.
According to the Illawarra Mercury, de Belin has been hit with a new charge of aggravated sexual assault in company causing actual bodily harm, which is added to four counts of aggravated sexual assault.
The added charge carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars, while each of the other four charges carry 20 years.
The Mercury believes de Belin and his co-accused - Shellharbour player Callan Sinclair - will be committed for trial on Wednesday morning.
According to police facts that were seen by the Mercury, de Belin and Sinclair accompanied the woman to an apartment in Gipps Street, so the pair could "charge their phones".
Once inside, de Belin allegedly grabbed the woman, removing her clothes and pinning her to the bed before allegedly raping her.
Sinclair sat in silence next to the pair, before de Belin allegedly said "come have a go".
Police allege the pair joint raped the woman, before Sinclair left to shower. De Belin continued with the act, and at times put his hand on her throat, making it tough for her to breath.
Following the incident, and after the woman left the men, she went to Wollongong Hospital and underwent a rape test. Police allege she had several injuries to her body including her legs, neck, shoulder and lower abdomen.
De Belin has been stood down by the NRL since February under the league's no-fault stand down policy.