NRL 2025: Jackson Topine’s legal win in court battle with Canterbury Bulldogs | Sport Confidential
Brandon Smith’s management have officially begun the search for a potential new club, after asking for expressions of interest from rival teams. See the full Sport Confidential.
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Brandon Smith’s management have officially begun his search for a potential new club after asking for expressions of interest from rivals for his signature.
Smith, recovering from a knee reconstruction, is off contract at the end of 2025 and is unlikely to return to the field until midway through next year.
By then, he may have a new club. It is understood his management sent an email to rival clubs last week asking them to put their best foot forward when it comes to the New Zealand international.
Smith has entered the final year of a big-money deal with the Roosters and they are unlikely to retain him on the same money, if at all.
He should have no trouble finding a home. Provided he makes a successful return from his knee injury, Smith is a world-class player capable of playing at hooker or lock.
TOPINE’S MASSIVE VICTORY OVER BULLDOGS
Phil Gould and the Bulldogs have been busy of late trying to strengthen their premiership claims for next season but in the background, a more serious issue has been quietly unfolding behind the closed doors of the NSW Supreme Court.
The fight between former player Jackson Topine and the Bulldogs has been simmering for more than a year and on Thursday the Supreme Court provided a brief glimpse into a legal bunfight that could have huge ramifications not just for the Bulldogs, but also the NRL.
First, a quick refresher of what all the fuss is about. Topine was one of the Bulldogs’ most promising players until he arrived late for training last year and was handed a punishment that involved wrestling as many as 35 of his former teammates.
Topine has claimed in Supreme Court documents that he was subject to assault and humiliation, suffering physical and mental harm as a result and prompting him to launch legal action for damages against the Bulldogs.
It is understood his legal team are claiming as much as $4 million in lost earnings based on a career that would have lasted a decade. The Bulldogs have vowed to defend themselves over the matter, leading to a legal bunfight that reached a flashpoint this week when the NRL club failed in a bid to gain access to confidential communication between Topine’s lawyer Abdul Reslan and his father Marcus Topine, as well as his agents Ahmad Merhi and Tyran Smith.
The Bulldogs also sought communications between Reslan and the medical experts who have treated their former player – John Carmody, Jan Earl and doctor Michael Atherton.
Earl is the mother of former rugby league player Sandor Earl and was formerly employed at South Sydney as their head of welfare.
Topine’s legal team argued the claims were the subject of client-legal privilege. They also insisted there was no legitimate forensic purpose for the documents and the subpoena from the Bulldogs requesting access was oppressive.
The court agreed with them when it came to communication with Topine’s father and agents. The Bulldogs won’t be getting their hands on those documents.
The court is yet to rule on access to the communications between Reslan and the medical experts, but the evidence provided by doctor Atherton warned that releasing those communications would have a long-lasting impact on Topine and his ability to trust medical experts.
In evidence released to the Supreme Court, which has been seen by this masthead, doctor Atherton claimed the release of confidential information would have a detrimental impact on Topine’s mental health.
“Mr Topine was deeply distressed by the knowledge that his personal details had been subpoenaed and may be provided to the defendants and their lawyers,” doctor Atherton said.
“He is a private man and provided the information about his personal life and his family in confidence. He was shocked and visibly anxious about the possible release of this information and given the injury caused on Mr Topine relates to his mental health, this release of sensitive material would have a detrimental impact on his mental health resulting in likely deterioration and re-traumatisation.”
He added it would also impact Topine’s ability to continue to seek treatment.
“It would detrimentally impact on the therapeutic relationship and the trust required to provide therapeutic care between Mr Topine and myself,” doctor Atherton said.
“This would be a great shame as he has made good progress, despite the serious nature of his trauma. This kind of loss of connection and break in a treatment relationship is likely to have serious negative impacts on an individual’s mental health.
“The release of information of a deep and personal nature is likely to permanently damage Mr Topine’s ability to trust clinicians in the future and this could have a detrimental impact on his current and future mental health.
“It is likely he will also be less resilient and have reduced capacity to manage the traumatic experiences he has endured in the past and related trauma ahead such as any subsequent court case.
“As a private man who has never engaged in psychotherapy before, he could reject future treatment providers as unsafe and potentially vulnerable to release one’s personal details to the wider public.
“This negative experience could act as a poor prognostic factor of his overall mental health in the future. Mr Topine has significant mental health issues as a result of his trauma and these will certainly require long term treatment and professional care.
“The most important factor in any therapeutic relationship is trust and this is significantly at risk from the release of this sensitive information.”
Topine had one more year of his deal with the Bulldogs to serve when he fell out with the club. He hasn’t been sighted since, having been officially released.
He is yet to speak publicly about the drama that has now become the subject of a court battle.
RIVALS EYE STORM RECRUITMENT GURU
The Melbourne Storm’s battle to keep Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jonah Pezet has been well documented. An even greater concern might be their bid to retain recruitment guru Paul Bunn, the man who helped piece together the roster that has forged a dynasty.
Bunn has been at the Storm for as long as many can remember but he recently entered the final year of his contract and rival clubs are watching developments closely.
There are few better talent spotters in the game, Bunn’s hit-list of stars includes the likes of Papenhuyzen and Harry Grant. He signed Cameron Munster and saw something in Jahrome Hughes when he was toiling to forge an NRL career.
There are few – if any – better in the game at what he does. Along with coach Craig Bellamy and head of football Frank Ponissi, Bunn has helped the Storm remain a premiership contender for as long as anyone can remember.
They can’t afford to lose him.
BROTHERLY BATTLE TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING
Dolphins prop Daniel Saifiti reckons he last played against his brother Jacob in the backyard of the family home about 20 years ago.
That drought will be broken in round two of the upcoming NRL season after Newcastle were scheduled to meet the Dolphins at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Saifiti will face his former club – and brother – at a ground he used to call home. His immediate thought was for his mother, who will be forced to watch her boys rip into each other
“When I first signed the contract it was going to be harder on mum,” Saifiti said.
“The last time we played against each other was in the backyard 20 years ago. It’s funny – I’m not sure how we approach it.
“Do we talk, do we joke about, do we talk on the field in the scrums or not? Wait until it’s game week.”
NRL SET FOR PERTH TAKEOVER
The NRL has demonstrated its commitment to making an impact in Perth after scheduling a double header at Optus Stadium on the same weekend that the state’s AFL clubs will be in Adelaide for Gather Round.
Cronulla will play Manly and South Sydney will play North Queensland in a pair of games that should attract a massive crowd given the NRL will be the only show in town.
The ARL Commission is locked in negotiations with the West Australian government over plans to expand into Perth as early as 2027, with negotiations believed to be entering their final phase.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo hinted at the strategic plan behind decisions to play games in Perth - and Melbourne - while the AFL take their entire competition to Adelaide.
“Of course if there is an opportunity for us to think about where we strategically place something, then we will take advantage of that too,” Abdo said.
“You might notice that in a few places in our draw this year.”
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