NRL athlete Jackson Topine files a lawsuit against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

According to court records, NRL player Jackson Topine claims he suffered psychological harm, embarrassment, and terror after being made to wrestle 30 to 35 teammates as a form of discipline for being late to Canterbury Bulldogs training the previous season.

The 22-year-old is still not playing in the NRL after being dropped by the team in November. Three days before to the training session that was the subject of the accusations, he participated in his final game for the Bulldogs in July of last year.

In the statement of claim submitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Topine claims he was singled out for an extra, unscheduled session following the completion of the wrestling portion of the players’ training schedule because he was “approximately eight to ten minutes” late.

Topine’s strength and self-defense skills reportedly declined with each match as the players were ordered to grapple him one after the other.

Topine says a Bulldogs coach urged the players, “No, don’t congratulate or help him,” and “Don’t let him up if he’s down, jump on him straight away.” That was something he deserved. He was incredibly late.

It is alleged that the session constituted a “deprivation of liberty” and resulted in Topine’s “permanent incapacity to play the game”. Topine is requesting exceptional and aggravating damages, which are thought to be worth millions of dollars.

The club only stated that “there are a number of allegations that we categorically deny,” refusing to address the particular accusations in the statement of claim.

The issues are “strictly confidential in nature,” according to a Bulldogs representative, but the team does “have internal policies and procedures in place for employee conduct and a very sound review process that we stand by.” The issues are related to employees.

The best interests and welfare of our players and staff are our top priorities, and we take player welfare very seriously, the statement reads.

The club will not be commenting at this time on any of the people at the center of the allegations below, as we do take mental health concerns extremely seriously and given the right sensitivities that should be applied in cases touching mental health.

The statement of claim claims that Topine mistook the schedule listing for “Arrive/strapping 8am” and “Wrestle 8.30am” and was unaware that he was running late.

He states that he was prepared at 8.30 am and finished the allotted wrestling practice at 10 am, at which point he was told to wrestle more Bulldogs players.

The story goes that a Bulldogs coach told some colleagues not to suggest that the wrestling matches be less intense.

According to the records, Topine received “illegal corporal punishment” under the coach’s direction.

As a youth, the forward moved to Australia from New Zealand, settling in Perth. Later, on a scholarship, he moved to Sydney to attend East Hills Boys High School, where he captained the Australian Schoolboys in 2019.

In 2021, he made his NRL debut with the Bulldogs, a team that finished last in the standings. He continued to play in 16 games under three different head coaches as the Bulldogs were changing their starting lineup.

The NSW Supreme Court in Sydney has scheduled a directions hearing for June 13th.

Conclusion

NRL athlete Jackson Topine’s lawsuit against the Canterbury Bulldogs underscores the importance of addressing player welfare and accountability in sports organizations. The legal action based on alleged psychological harm highlights ongoing discussions about athlete well-being and support systems. Stay informed about developments in this case and its potential impact on sports governance and player rights.