WATCH: Big bad Brutus attacks rival saltie to warn it to stay clear of his Adelaide River patch

World famous croc Brutus performs a brutal attack after a new foe has been trying to take his crown. WATCH THE VIDEO.

One of the NT’s most famous and possibly oldest alpha saltwater crocodiles has been filmed giving another croc a “death roll” on the Adelaide River showing he still has his bite.

In the moment captured on Saturday July 19, ‘Brutus’ the nearly 6m saltie, attacked a fellow reptile in front of a boat load of onlookers.

Just the day before, there were concerns about Brutus’ welfare when he was found by Adelaide River Cruise guides looking worse for wear on a river bank after being attacked himself by what is believed to be a new croc on the block, Slick Rick

But John Dealy, one of the cruise managers, said it seems he has recovered very quickly and there was still plenty of fight left in him.

“Last Friday we found Brutus laid up on the bank with a clear scratch on his tail,” he said.

“We were going and checking on him, all the tours we went out and had a look.

“The next morning, he was noticeably sluggish but alert.

The attacked croc escapes after being attacked by Brutus in front of a boat from Adelaide River Cruises on Saturday morning. Image: Adelaide River Cruises

“So he’s rested up all day Friday, and then he had a bit of good energy on Saturday morning.

“As another croc swam past him, he caught it and gave it a few big rolls before it managed to get away.”

Brutus – who is believed to be close to 100 years old based on his lack of teeth, his size and how long he has been interacting with the boats – has made headlines before for his impressive size and clashes with neighbouring alpha male Dominator.

Brutus the croc on the original 'Yes it's real' NT News front page on the left hit international headlines in 2011.

Originally, Brutus held the main stretch of river, but about eight years ago, Dominator, who was just spotted eating a bull shark, moved into that space and took the territory without much of a fight.

John said Brutus, being older, simply relocated around the bend.

But is seems this year, the elder is facing a new foe.

“It started at the start of this season,” said John. “We started noticing it.

“Another croc called Slick Rick just moved into the area this year.”

Brutus playing ‘very smart game’ with slippery rival

Since arriving, Slick a “fit five metre male with a full set of teeth” has been openly pushing into Brutus’s territory.

It is thought he is also behind the recent attack on Brutus.

With his eyes on Brutus’s muddy banks and female crocs, Slick appears to be pushing the massive croc into “high alert” which could explain Brutus’s actions on Saturday said John.

The death roll in action: The moment Brutus attacked another croc in front of a boat on Saturday morning. Image: Adelaide River Cruises

“From a purely human speculative perspective, it feels like Brutus knows what’s happening and he’s playing a very smart game,” he said.

”Brutus is getting up into spots of the river where there’s a few big logs and then he’s got two or three ways out when he’s sitting on the bank.

“So it seems like he knows he’s being hunted.

Brutus the croc moments before he attacks another crocodile on Saturday. Image: Adelaide River Cruises

“It could be he’s playing the game with the fella. Or he could be really old now and purely avoiding a fight.”

The old croc has been a cruise staple having interacted with the boats for around 30 years.

Describing him as having a “lovely temperament” and a great croc to interact with, John said he is basically family to lot of the older guides.

“We’ll keep watching,” he added.

“It’s shaping up to be an interesting few weeks on the river.”

Originally published as WATCH: Big bad Brutus attacks rival saltie to warn it to stay clear of his Adelaide River patch