Fake punch ignited NRL player brawl: court

Fringe Canterbury player Tyrone Phillips allegedly sparked a violent brawl outside a Sydney nightclub by pretending to assault a woman on the dance floor, a court has heard.

Phillips, South Sydney NRL player Dylan Walker and twins Ahmed and Ali Berro have been charged over an affray outside Anesi Lounge at Beverly Hills in Sydney's south in the early hours of November 3, which hospitalised three men.

They have pleaded not guilty.

At a hearing on Monday, Downing Centre Local Court heard that tensions surfaced inside the club when Phillips allegedly pretended to slap or punch a woman on the dance floor.

"It was their sense of humour," barrister George Thomas, for the Berros, said.

"The male pretended to strike, that is punch, the female in the head but it didn't connect ... as a result a number of people quickly moved to the dance floor to take action."

It was here that Phillips was allegedly punched, causing the club to kick the men out.

Outside, police allege a brawl involving up to 100 people broke out.

Police statements tendered to court say that after the attack, one of the alleged victims, Mason Griffen, identified Phillips, adding: "That's Tyrone, the guy that was in the fight and hit my mate with a pole".

He later alleged that Phillips had also grabbed a wooden stake from out of the ground and swung it at another man, Kallan Richards.

Walker was mainly "fighting, punching and stuff" during the melee outside, Mr Griffens also told police.

Initial medical reports indicated Mr Richards suffered stab wounds to the stomach and a possible collapsed lung, while another alleged victim Daniel Ahsin had a "horrific neck wound".

But Walker's barrister Michael Coroneos raised concerns about inconsistencies in the alleged victims' statements to police.

The court heard that none of the accused had any criminal convictions.

The hearing continues.