NRL 2024: Jackson Topine takes Bulldogs to NSW Supreme Court over ‘unlawful corporal punishment’

A young Canterbury forward has launched legal proceedings against the Bulldogs amid allegations that a punishment he was forced to endure was a “deprivation of liberty”.

Jackson Topine hasn’t returned to the Bulldogs since the incident. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Young Canterbury forward Jackson Topine has launched legal proceedings against the Bulldogs amid allegations that a punishment he was forced to endure over being late for training was a “deprivation of liberty” and “unlawful corporal punishment”.

The Australian newspaper report said that statement of claim had been lodged by Topine’s legal team with the NSW Supreme Court alleging that the 22-year-old - a former Bulldogs club person of the year - had been subjected to “assault”, “battery” and “humiliation” at the behest of one of the club’s conditioning staff.

Jackson Topine during a game against the Cowboys in Townsville in 2021. Picture: Alix Sweeney

This masthead reported last year that a player at the Bulldogs had taken mental health leave after being forced to wrestle every member of the first grade squad as a punishment for mistakenly arriving late for a training session.

This masthead declined to name the player at the time out of respect for the personal battle he was enduring. At the time, it was reported that he was considering taking legal action against the Bulldogs over his treatment and it has now emerged that he has taken the first step in that process.

The court documents, which have been obtained by The Australian, allege that despite Topine’s obvious exhaustion and distress, his teammates were ordered by head trainer Travis Touma to continue wrestling him.

How the Daily Telegraph covered the incident when it happened.

“Each player in the Bulldogs roster, who were the plaintiff’s ­opponents in wrestling match-ups, possessed high levels of fitness and strength,” the court statement reads.

“(Touma) directed (Topine’s) opponents in the wrestling match-ups not to reduce intensity by saying words to the following effect, ‘Don’t let him up if he’s down, jump on him straight away’.

“As a result of completing the performance of all wrestling match-ups required under the wrestling direction, (Topine) required assistance in performing limited physical functions, including, standing and walking.”

The statement of claims backs reports in this masthead last year in which it was alleged that Topine had no idea he was late for training.

“The plaintiff arrived late to training in circumstances where he made a mistake in relation to reading the training schedule for 18 July 2023 of “Arrive/ strapping 8am” then “Wrestle 8.30am”, the statement reads.

Jackson Topine during a training session with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2019. Picture: Brett Costello

“On arrival, he greeted numerous players and staff. He was available and prepared for the commencement of the scheduled wrestling training at 8.30am.

“After completing the scheduled wrestling training (which was undertaken by all players in the Bulldogs player roster present over an hour and a half) from ­approximately 8.30am until 10.00am, the second defendant (Touma) directed the plaintiff (Topine), as a condition of his employment, to engage in individual wrestling match-ups with between 30 to 35 players in the Bulldogs NRL Player Roster (the “wrestling direction”).”

Jackson Topine is a former Australian schoolboys captain who was signed to the Bulldogs as a 15-year-old. Picture: Brett Costello

Topine was one of the Bulldogs’ most promising young players prior to the incident which has now seemingly cost him his place at the club. According to the NRL website he is still contracted to the club for this season but he has been removed from the Bulldogs’ website.

Revelations that he has commenced court proceedings against the club shape as a significant setback for coach Cameron Ciraldo as he looks to maintain the club’s promising form this season - they have won three of their opening seven games and thrashed the Newcastle Knights last weekend.

The Bulldogs have the bye this week but they now face disturbing allegations in relation to a story that was first revealed by this masthead nearly eight months ago.

The revelations that Jackson Topine commenced court proceedings shape as a significant setback for coach Cameron Ciraldo. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

At the time, Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould was dismissive of the claims and club officials privately downplayed allegations that Topine had been treated poorly.

“Has there been a group of players who approach the club dissatisfied with culture or other matters? No, that hasn’t happened, never at any time …“ Gould said on his own podcast, Six Tackles with Gus last year.

“But we’re strongly in support of the standards that we’re trying to enforce at the club and the culture that we’re trying to create and turning around what’s been a very poor last decade for the Bulldogs and that will take time.”

Ciraldo also defended the club’s systems when the story broke last year.

How the Daily Telegraph covered the incident when it happened.

“We’ve gone through a range of different ways of talking about holding standards,” Ciraldo said.

“Some of that’s been monetary related, some of it’s been spinning a wheel and then some of that’s been trying to find ways to change behaviours.

“The reality is we need to change behaviours here, and I think we’ve done a good job of that throughout the season. And I feel really sorry for the fans that we are where we are. It doesn’t seem like we’ve taken steps forward this year on the same wins as last year.

“We definitely haven’t taken steps back.”

Ciraldo and Gould are likely to be central figures in the court battle given they have presided over the club and the renovation of its culture.

The Bulldogs told The Australian that they take mental health very seriously but would not provide responses to specific questions.

Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould was dismissive of the claims and club officials privately downplayed the allegations. Picture: Getty Images

“Our club will not be providing responses to the questions below as requested … but will say that there are a number of allegations that we categorically deny,” a Bulldogs spokeswoman wrote.

“Some of the questioning … relates specifically to employees or their contracts and as with all employee matters, these are strictly confidential in nature … We also take player welfare very seriously and place the best interests and welfare of our players and staff as our number one priority.

“As we do take mental health concerns very seriously and given the appropriate sensitivities that should be ­applied in matters concerning mental health, the club will not be making any comment at this time on any of the ­individuals at the centre of the ­allegations.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Jackson Topine takes Bulldogs to NSW Supreme Court over ‘unlawful corporal punishment’