Marshall knew Packer long before his 12-month stint behind bars and said on Friday that there is no comparison between the man he was before his conviction and the man he is now.

"I knew Russell before he came to the Dragons and before that incident and he wasn't a great person. I know him now and he's a completely different person,” Marshall said.

"That's the reason I stuck up for him, not only as a teammate but because I've seen his character change."

Packer signed a two-year deal with the Dragons in October after being cleared by the NRL to resume his top-grade career. However his future has been clouded by new immigration laws that could see him deported as a result of his criminal conviction.

Marshall was one of several NRL stars to sign an online petition in support of Packer and said it would be a shame to see him deported given the huge strides he’s made to rehabilitate himself.

"That's what we have a justice system for. He did his time in jail where he spent 12 months [in] prison,” Marshall said.

"After serving his time in prison I think he's come to the realisation he needs to be a better person, and even more than that, he wants to be a better father and better husband and I've seen those changes.

"The biggest thing I've noticed is it's about his kids and his family and he wants to be a better person for them. He's said it to me, it's not about proving it to us it's about proving it to his family.”