Read the full text exchange between Sam Burgess and his ex-wife Phoebe - Daily Mail

A fiery text exchange between Sam Burgess and his ex-wife Phoebe has been revealed as the NRL star faces court accused of assaulting and intimidating former father-in-law Mitchell Hooke.

Burgess described how an access visit with his two children at the Hooke family home in the New South Wales Southern Highlands descended into a slanging match with Mr Hooke after the break-up of his marriage to Phoebe. .

'Mitch Hooke and Phoebe Burgess have tried to destroy my client's career and it's not going to stop here, you might think.' .

NRL star Sam Burgess (pictured) has stepped into the witness box to defend himself against allegations he assaulted and intimidated his ex-wife Phoebe's millionaire father Mitchell Hooke.

Burgess has given evidence that three days before the alleged assault he met Mr Hooke to discuss the break-up with Phoebe, 'basically just to open up lines of communication'.

The retired footballer said Mr Hooke had asked if it was possible the couple would reconcile and Burgess told him that after 18 months of trying to save their marriage it was over.

According to Burgess, Mr Hooke told him he could have helped handle the media fall-out from his comments.

'He reminded me that he was the guy that brought down the Kevin Rudd government,' Burgess told Moss Vale Local Court.

Burgess is accused of assaulting and intimidating Mitchell Hooke at the country estate near Bowral, although no actual physical violence has been alleged against him. .

Two hours before the scheduled October 19, 2019, visit Burgess said Phoebe withdrew an offer for him to come earlier to spend more time with the children.

Burgess said when he arrived at the Hooke home about 2pm he was met by Mr Hooke who told him: 'The kids are there, instructions are there', then left him alone with the children.

About 4pm Phoebe, 31, sent Burgess a text message asking him to leave the property.

Burgess, pictured with his mum Julie left, is accused of assaulting and intimidating Mitchell Hooke at the Hooke family home, although no actual physical violence has been alleged against him.

About 4pm Phoebe, 31, sent Burgess a text message asking him to leave the property.

Burgess sent Phoebe a text to say he would wait until she returned to the house because he did not want to leave the children unattended.

Phoebe insisted Burgess leave in another text, then Mr Hooke emerged from his office and spoke to Burgess.

'He tapped his watch and said, "Time's up, let's go",' Burgess told the court.

Burgess said he left the house and Mr Hooke followed him outside.

and that's why Phoebe is the way she is." I told him he couldn't make up for lost time.'.

Burgess said Mr Hooke approached him on the pebble driveway and said, 'You could have had all this'.

Burgess said he then told Mr Hooke: 'No one in this whole town likes you.

Burgess told the court he was unhappy about leaving the multi-million dollar Glenquarry estate outside Bowral, known as Daffodil Downs, before Phoebe returned.

'I didn't want to leave the children with Mitch because I didn't trust him with them,' he said.

'I'm not leaving both kids with your dad… Nobody in the house - want me to leave the kids in the living room?' Burgess texted Phoebe in a series of messages.

Phoebe urged Sam to leave the children with her father so she did not have to see Burgess before he left

When Burgess replied 'you really should stick to your plan,' Phoebe said 'don't you ever message me again'

At 4:22pm Burgess complained that Phoebe was 'still not home' and wrote 'great parenting'

The fiery text exchange that led to the break up of NRL star Sam Burgess and his ex-wife Phoebe has revealed how an access visit clash unfolded

Burgess said he had called Bell about 15 minutes after the argument with Mr Hooke, amid a heated text exchange with Phoebe

'He is an adviser to some people,' Burgess said

Burgess's barrister Phillip Boulten SC said Mr Hooke had become upset when challenged by Burgess in his home and his evidence about the encounter should not be accepted

Burgess has pleaded not guilty to charges of intimidation and common assault after an alleged confrontation with his father-in-law Mitchell Hooke at the Hooke family home (pictured)

Burgess said his relationship with Mr Hooke had deteriorated over the last 12 months of his marriage to Phoebe but he had always treated him with respect

Burgess called Mr Hooke 'Mitchy Boy' in text messages and accepted he had routinely signed off with 'love you' and Xs out of politeness

Burgess had been 'calm', 'angry' and 'upset' during the encounter at the Hooke family home and blamed Mr Hooke in part for not being able to spend more time with his children

Sam married Phoebe at her parents' home in December 2015 and have two children, Poppy, who turns four next week, and Billy, who turned two in December

Sam Burgess married Phoebe Hooke at her family home just outside Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands in December 2015