Jackson Topine: Footy star attacks his team with $4 million lawsuit for allegedly goading 35 of his teammates into attacking him, a shocking punishment for a minor violation of club rules
- Former Bulldogs player launches explosive legal action
- The trial relates to an alleged incident that took place in July last year
- Jackson Topine alleges deprivation of liberty by club
Former Bulldogs star Jackson Topine has hit the NRL club with an explosive $4 million lawsuit, alleging he was assaulted by up to 35 of his teammates and deprived of his liberty during a brutal punishment inflicted in July last year.
The 22-year-old accuses the team of hitting him with “illegal corporal punishment” while he was “detained” in a Sydney gym and forced to wrestle 30 to 35 of his fellow Bulldogs as punishment for being eight to 10 minutes late. to training.
His lawsuit alleges that disciplinary actions taken on the orders of head coach Travis Touma amounted to “battery” and left him with “psychiatric injuries” and “physical and mental impairments,” News Corp reported.
Jackson Topine (pictured right with his girlfriend Holly Leppard) accused the Bulldogs of “assault” and “deprivation of liberty” after he was forced to fight up to 35 of his teammates as punishment for his delay.
The alleged incident in July 2023 left Topine (pictured with Leppard) so physically broken that he could no longer stand or walk without assistance.
The alleged incident on July 18, 2023 saw him having to wrestle the club’s entire senior team for 30 seconds at a time, leading one Bulldogs star to tell the publication: ‘It wasn’t the struggle was humiliation.”
Now, the lawsuit alleges that Touma applied the penalty to Topine after the players had already completed an intense 90-minute wrestling session.
Touma is accused of refusing to end the wrestling punishment despite Topine showing clear signs of distress and exhaustion, with the court saying: “Every player on the roster of the Bulldogs, who were the plaintiff’s opponents in wrestling clashes, possessed a high level of physical fitness and strength.
The 22-year-old (pictured playing for the Dogs) was allegedly forced to grapple with teammates one after the other for 30 seconds at a time – with other players told not to let go when he showed signs of distress.
The fight continued even though other team members pointed out that Topine was in pain and Touma said words like “don’t let him get up if he’s down, jump on him right away “, according to the lawsuit.
Touma is also accused of refusing to let other players help the 22-year-old and telling him: “Don’t praise him or help him.” He deserved this. He was really late.
The young star was left so physically exhausted afterward that he was unable to stand or walk without assistance, according to the court statement.
The Bulldogs said the club “would say there are a number of allegations which we categorically deny” in a statement regarding the legal action.
Shortly after the alleged incident, media reported that an unnamed player was forced to fight with several players as punishment for being late.
Topine (pictured center during a match against the Brisbane Broncos) was a highly regarded young talent but has not played rugby since the alleged incident.
Former representative star (pictured with Leppard) demands $4 million from club
Topine’s lawyer, Abdul Reslan, said the trial would have a significant effect on the NRL and told the publication: “Appropriate protections must be afforded in all workplaces, including in sports. contact”.
Topine – who captained the New South Wales and Australian schoolboys teams and was considered one of the club’s brightest young talents – has not played rugby since the alleged punishment.
He played in 16 NRL matches for the Dogs from 2021 to 2023, scoring one try, and represented the Maori All Stars in 2021.
The Auckland-born forward first joined the Bulldogs in 2018, while playing on scholarship at East Hills Boys High School in Sydney, and he also played for the Australian schoolboys team in 2019.
