Not really sure where to put this but:
Jackson Topine has reportedly launched legal action against the Bulldogs alleging that a punishment he was forced to endure over being late for training was a “deprivation of liberty” and “unlawful corporal punishment”
If you recall a story last year that a player who arrived late to training was forced to wrestle the entire NRL squad as punishment, it has now been revealed that player was Topine.
the court documents allege that despite Topine’s obvious exhaustion and distress, his teammates were ordered by head trainer Travis Touma to continue wrestling him.
Quotes from the court statement:
“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 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.
“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”).”