Former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs player Jackson Topine has launched a bombshell $4m lawsuit against his former NRL club. The 22-year-old is accusing the Bulldogs of “deprivation of liberty” and “unlawful corporal punishment”, according to a report in The Australian. Topine’s lawyers alleged in a statement of claim lodged in the NSW Supreme Court this week the former rising star was forced to wrestle between 30 and 35 teammates as punishment for turning up late to training.
They say he was “detained” and had to endure “assault”, “battery” and “humiliation” under the strict rules of the club’s head of fitness, Travis Touma, because of which he suffered “psychiatric injury” and “physical and mental impairment”. The lawyers added that his contract was illegally terminated.