Former Bulldogs Player Jackson Topine Sues NRL Club for $4 Million Over Alleged Training Punishment

Jackson Topine, a 22-year-old former Bulldogs forward, has filed a $4 million lawsuit against the NRL club in the New South Wales Supreme Court. Topine alleges that he was forced to wrestle 30 to 35 players consecutively as a punishment for being late to training, which resulted in physical and mental impairment.

The incident is alleged to have occurred on July 18, 2023, during a 90-minute wrestling and grappling session directed by the Bulldogs' high-performance manager Travis Touma. Topine claims he was "detained" and subjected to "assault", "battery", and "humiliation" under Touma's orders for arriving 8-10 minutes late. "The punishment was unlawful and a breach of procedural fairness, amounting to corporal punishment," Topine's legal team stated in the lawsuit.

As a result of the alleged punishment, Topine claims he suffered "psychiatric injury, deprivation of liberty, humiliation, indignity, physical exhaustion, physical discomfort, anxiety, embarrassment and fear." He has not played in the NRL since the incident and alleges the Bulldogs wrongfully stopped paying his wages in November 2023.

The Bulldogs have vowed to "vigorously defend" themselves against the claim. In a statement, the club said, "The Bulldogs take player welfare and mental health concerns seriously but will not comment on the specifics of this case due to confidentiality." However, they acknowledged having internal policies and procedures in place for employee conduct.

Why this matters: Topine's legal action against the Bulldogs highlights the potential risks and consequences associated with training practices in professional sports. The case raises questions about player welfare, mental health, and the boundaries of acceptable disciplinary measures within elite sporting organizations.

The Rugby League Players' Association is monitoring the situation but is not directly involved in the civil case. Touma, who has worked as a head trainer for several NRL clubs, has been defended by Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson as a "very experienced trainer" and "outstanding person" with a high "care factor" for players. The case is expected to be heard in the NSW Supreme Court in June, with Topine pursuing damages based on the average player's career earnings of 10-12 years.

Key Takeaways

• Former Bulldogs player Jackson Topine sues club for $4M over forced wrestling
• Topine alleges he was punished for lateness by wrestling 30-35 players consecutively
• Topine claims he suffered physical and mental impairment from the punishment
• Bulldogs defend player welfare policies but won't comment on specifics of case
• Case raises questions about player welfare and disciplinary measures in pro sports