In 2007, Packer signed with the New Zealand Warriors but spent most of the season playing for the Auckland Lions in the NSWRL Premier League.

At the end of the season Packer was named in the National Youth Competition's Team of the Year alongside teammate Ben Matulino.

[5] Packer was selected to play for the Warriors in the 2011 NRL Grand final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles as a starting prop forward.

[9] On 29 November 2013, Packer appeared before court in Sydney, New South Wales, charged with assaulting a 22-year-old man, fracturing his eye socket.

Packer then punched the man several times as he lay on the ground and stomped on his head, leaving the victim with two fractured facial bones.

On 6 January 2014, Packer was sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

[12] Having had a criminal conviction, there had been fears that he would be deported back to New Zealand, but on 16 December he was granted permission to remain in Australia, thus clearing the way for him to resume his first grade career with the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

[13] In May 2015, Packer returned to rugby league with the Dragons' second-tier team the Illawarra Cutters in the New South Wales Cup.

"[17] Packer made his return to international football in the 2017 Anzac Test, and played in every game for New Zealand in 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

"[18] After the departure of Aaron Woods, Packer was named as one of 5 co-captains at Wests Tigers, alongside Benji Marshall, Chris Lawrence, Elijah Taylor and Josh Reynolds.

In February 2020, it was revealed that Packer could be forced to medically retire from rugby league after struggling to recover from an ongoing foot injury.

"[24] On 6 September, it was reported that Packer and teammate Josh Reynolds had left the club's round 17 match against Manly-Warringah at half-time which was against team protocols.

We are focused on ensuring every single person, player coach administrator board members actions are in complete alignment with the expectation of higher standards".