NRL News: Jackson Topine and Bulldogs head to Supreme Court for directions hearing
A date has been set for the next step in the legal stoush between Jackson Topine and the Bulldogs while two other NRL stars will face the courts Tuesday for different matters.
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Jackson Topine is set to fire his first salvo at the Bulldogs next month after his civil case against the club was listed for a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on June 13.
Topine, one of the Bulldogs most promising players before his estrangement with the club, is believed to be seeking millions in damages after claiming he suffered psychiatric injury and physical and mental impairment as a result of a training ground punishment.
This masthead reported last year that a Bulldogs player had taken mental health leave after being forced to wrestle every member of the first grade squad as punishment for mistakenly arriving late for a training session.
At the time, News Corp declined to name the player out of respect for his personal battle but Topine was named last month and he is set to take centre stage as his fight with the Bulldogs heads to the Supreme Court.
The matter is listed for a directions hearing at the Supreme Court in Sydney where a registrar will make orders about the next steps in the process.
The Bulldogs have the bye that weekend. Topine hasn’t played since the training ground incident last year that left him on the outer at the club.
“Each player in the Bulldogs roster, who were the plaintiff’s ¬opponents in wrestling match-ups, possessed high levels of fitness and strength,” Topine’s statement of claim reads.
“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.”
Current and former players and officials from the Bulldogs are expected to be called to give evidence as part of the court hearing which could include ex-club skipper Raymond Faitala-Mariner.
It is understood Faitala-Mariner was one of the players who stood up for Topine following the trading session punishment.
Faitala-Mariner said recently that he had learnt from his experience as a leader.
“I was still new to the captaincy and the leadership role, and I guess my way of leadership may have been wrong,” he said when asked if he stands by his actions last year. “I’ve learnt a lot from it, and hopefully it’s made me a better leader and now I know what to do and what not to do.”
Meanwhile, Penrith’s Taylan May and Cronulla’s Braydon Trindall are also due in court on the same day next Tuesday.
May is facing serious domestic violence charges in which he allegedly punched his wife in the face and leg last month. He was stood-down by the Panthers heading into last week’s match and the NRL have ruled him ineligible to play this week as part of the no-fault stand-down policy.
Trindall has not played since round seven after a mid-range drink-driving charge. He also allegedly tested positive for an illicit substance.
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Originally published as NRL News: Jackson Topine and Bulldogs head to Supreme Court for directions hearing
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