Jackson Topine: Startling new detail casts doubt over Bulldogs star’s $4million lawsuit accusing club of getting 35 of his teammates to assault him
- Dogs star has dropped a bombshell on the NRL
- Alleges assault, battery and deprivation of liberty
- Hasn’t played since the alleged incident
The agent of ex-Bulldogs star Jackson Topine offered his services to every other club in the league just weeks before his lawyer filed a $4 million lawsuit against the club, claiming he could no longer play football.
The 22-year-old accuses the team of hitting him with ‘unlawful corporal punishment’ when he was ‘detained’ in a Sydney gym and made to wrestle 30 to 35 of his fellow Bulldogs as punishment for being eight to 10 minutes late used to be. train.
His lawsuit alleges that the disciplinary actions ordered by head coach Travis Touma amounted to “assault and battery” and left him with “psychiatric injuries” and “physical and mental disabilities.”
Topine (pictured during his time with the Bulldogs) has not played football again as he was reportedly too physically damaged to be able to stand unassisted after the club forced him to take up to 35 of his team-mates in July last year to struggle one after another.
Topine’s agent reportedly emailed all 17 other clubs offering his services just weeks before his lawsuit claimed he was unable to play footy following the alleged incident.
Documents outlining Topine’s case – seen by Daily Mail Australia – claim he has had a ‘continuing inability to play the game’.
However, the star’s agent, Tyran Smith, emailed all 17 other clubs in the NRL on April 8 to tell them the star was available, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Jackson’s name was on the list because our system determined he had terminated his contract with the Bulldogs in 2024. In Jackson’s case, uncertainty about his long-term prognosis led to his delisting,” Smith told the publication.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Topine’s legal representatives were aware of the email.
It has also emerged that some of Topine’s former Bulldogs teammates are willing to support him in his legal battle.
The alleged incident on July 18, 2023 saw the 22-year-old wrestle the club’s entire senior team for 30 seconds straight, leading to a Bulldogs star telling the publication: ‘It wasn’t wrestling, it was humiliation. .’
The 22-year-old (pictured playing for the Dogs last year) demands $4 million from the Dogs
Topine’s lawsuit accuses Bulldogs coach Travis Touma (pictured) of orchestrating the punishment
The lawsuit alleges that Dogs coach Travis Touma imposed the punishment on Topine after the players had already completed an intense 90-minute wrestling session.
Touma is accused of refusing to end the wrestling penalty despite Topine showing clear signs of distress and exhaustion, with the court statement stating: “Every player on the Bulldogs roster, who were the plaintiff’s opponents in wrestling matches , had a high degree of fitness. and strength.’
The wrestling continued even though other team members pointed out that Topine was suffering and Touma said words along the lines of “don’t let him get up when he’s down, jump on him right away,” the lawsuit alleges.
The young star was so physically exhausted afterward that he could no longer stand or walk without assistance, according to the court affidavit, which also claims he did not know why he was being punished, as he thought he had arrived 20 minutes early had arrived for the session. .
“The board unanimously agreed that it would vigorously defend the club and its employee Travis Touma against the claim made today by a former player,” Canterbury chairman Adam Driussi said on Wednesday.