The headlines were sensational: Jackson Topine, taking on his former club Canterbury in court, supposedly had “at least six” former teammates ready to provide evidence supporting his claims of mistreatment during a training session.
There was just one small problem: none of them have actually agreed to do so.
And there is a bigger issue facing Topine. I have been told the Bulldogs will pursue him for legal costs if they successfully defend the claim.
Topine, 23, is suing the Bulldogs for $4 million after he claimed he was left with a “psychiatric injury” after he was forced to wrestle up to 35 teammates during a training session, which Topine’s legal team has described as “deprivation of liberty” and “unlawful corporal punishment”.
The landmark case could have significant implications for professional sport throughout the country.
I have been told by sources with knowledge of the situation, not authorised to speak publicly, that Canterbury expect to spend up to $1 million defending what they view as an entirely unsubstantiated claim.
Former Canterbury player Jackson Topine is taking legal action against the club.Credit: NRL Imagery
Senior club figures are particularly frustrated at what they view as an opportunistic lawsuit from a player whose career has stalled. Should the Bulldogs prevail in court, they intend to vigorously pursue the recovery of costs from their former player.
This column has learnt that, far from the groundswell of support reported elsewhere, Topine’s legal team admitted in court during the week that they have been unable to secure any player testimonies. Not one.
In fact, multiple former Bulldogs players have privately indicated to the club they want absolutely nothing to do with the case.
Court documents obtained by this column reveal that the reports half a dozen players were set to be called on to back Topine’s version of events in court are misleading.
Just minutes before a recent hearing, Topine’s team produced an affidavit revealing their attempts to contact potential witnesses had hit a brick wall. The players had either not returned messages or were declining to discuss the matter.
The court was clearly unimpressed with this 11th-hour revelation.
Topine’s team now has until March 19 to outline what evidence they expect these witnesses to give. However, as Topine’s counsel, Shane Prince SC, acknowledged in court, that information could be “very limited” given none of the proposed witnesses had been willing to engage.
The case continues.
‘I’m the result of a sperm donor’
Sharks star Toby Rudolf is one of the more interesting characters in Australian sport. And today he provides an insight into his family life that is rare to say the least.
Rudolf has often paid tribute to his mother, Susan, for raising him on her own. But there’s much more to the story.
“I’m the result of a sperm donor,” he said. “It’s not breaking news to me, it’s something I’ve lived with my whole life, and it’s not an issue at all.
“I remember when I was five talking to my mum about it when I heard someone’s dad talking about his son. I asked my mum, and she said that I’m both your mum and your dad. That’s good enough for me.
“It’s not something that’s hard for me to talk about because it’s my life and my mum is right, she is my mum and my dad, as she did everything for me through my whole life, so I haven’t missed out on anything at all.
Sharks forward Toby Rudolf is one of the more interesting characters in Australian sport.Credit: NRL Photos
“In fact, I’m probably luckier than a lot of people growing up given how dedicated my mum has been to me.”
The subject came up when Rudolf contacted me to be on his podcast. He wanted to do a comedy skit about it, where he was going to reveal me as his father as a joke. So it’s obvious he’s not sensitive about the matter.
“Back then, I think it was uni students who donated sperm, and I’ve got no idea who my actual dad is, nor will I try and find out,” he said.
“I’m really happy with my lot in life and I couldn’t be more grateful to my mum. She’s had to overcome a lot, being legally blind and bringing me up. I was brought up in housing commission, but I never realised that there was anything different, and I had a lifestyle and upbringing that I wouldn’t change for anything.”
Rudolf, the Cronulla Sharks forward, does a podcast with former NRL player Liam Knight and clearly has a future in media if he chooses after football. He has previously talked about his fluid sexuality, describing himself as a “one-stop shop”.
Is there something about Raymond?
The NRL is scrutinising the Dragons’ head injury replacement of Raymond Faitala-Mariner in the club’s loss to the Bulldogs last weekend.
Concussion is a big issue in the game and the NRL is aware of the need to keep a close eye on how teams use head knock replacements. The NRL takes a dim view of any team doing the wrong thing in this area, particularly if they gain an advantage.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner leaves the field for an HIA in round one.Credit: Fox League
Replacements are studied by the NRL, but this moment has attracted extra attention. Keen observers of the game alerted this column to the stint played by the Dragons veteran and his subsequent replacement as the Red V attempted to launch a late comeback against the Bulldogs.
Faitala-Mariner was the Dragons’ fourth interchange, coming on in the 48th minute to replace Luciano Leilua.
Faitala-Mariner’s spirited stint was largely defensive. Of the tackles he made, the vast majority did not involve high-speed collisions. None appeared to involve a head clash.
In his hit-ups, the observation was much the same: strong carries without an obvious head knock.
He appeared to be in good condition when he was taken off the field in the 71st minute to allow Jack de Belin to come into the game. Faitala-Mariner even smiled at those bringing him from the field.
The Dragons are aware of the investigation and are co-operating with the NRL.
Buddy good idea
A lot has been made about the responsibility borne by Newcastle’s management when it comes to Dylan Brown’s stunning long-term contract. Brown has agreed a 10-year, $13 million-plus deal with the Knights from next year.
There is a criticism that it will be viewed as someone else’s problem if it doesn’t work out, because the officials who did the deal won’t be around to be held accountable in 10 years’ time.
Laughing all the way to the bank: Dylan Brown.Credit: Sam Mooy
Well, it’s worth noting that in AFL the Lance “Buddy” Franklin rule was introduced for contracts of six years or more. The rule says AFL club boards and chief executives have to sign off on those deals and accept “full financial responsibility for meeting all current and future contract obligations” for deals of six or more years.
Maybe the NRL should adopt a similar rule?
What happens in Vegas …
Fox Sports has apparently backed the behaviour of reporter James Hooper in Las Vegas after he missed all of his work engagements. They put him straight back on air despite his failure to front for any of Fox Sports’ coverage of the NRL season opener in Sin City.
Some of his colleagues have wondered whether the same would apply to them in similar circumstances.
The NRL also had no issue with Hooper’s drinking on the official charter flight to Vegas, which they funded. He was perched at the MGM Grand Hotel bar from early in the morning when he arrived, and some of his conversations caused concern for those in earshot.
Neither Hooper nor his boss at Fox Sports, Steve Crawley, have responded to a series of questions about Hooper’s actions or how he ended up with a cut on his head.
NRL club bosses and players have contacted this column to complain about the lack of action by Fox and the NRL, blaming me and the media for not making more of his behaviour. This columnist is the only person who raised it, so attacking me for a lack of action is a little unreasonable. It’s an issue that needs to be raised with Fox and the NRL.
Roosters a no-Joe zone
This columnist was mocked for suggesting some time ago that it was no certainty Joseph Manu would return to the Roosters this year after his short-term stint in Japanese rugby, and that Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii may never return to the club or the NRL.
It had been widely reported – and assumed – by some media that Manu would come back midway through this year. However, it was obvious from conversations I had with Manu in the days following his decision to defect to rugby that there were other options on the table.
Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii are unlikely to ever be seen in Roosters colours again.Credit: James Brickwood
Manu said he dreamt of playing for the All Blacks, and while he has softened that publicly, there was also the lure of French rugby, where he is set to play next.
As it turns out, Roosters coach Trent Robinson knew nine months ago Manu was not planning to return to Bondi and all the talk about a comeback was just that.
The Roosters know Manu is earning big money in rugby. He will be paid more than $1 million for his French rugby stint and, at best, might consider a Roosters return after that. The problem for the Roosters is it would take a lot of money to get him back, he will have been out of the game for quite a while, and he will also be in his 30s by then. It may depend on how desperate the club is at that point.
The club also needs to get comfortable with the prospect of Suaalii not returning. He has indicated to this column previously that he is far from certain to come back.
The Roosters cannot match the money Suaalii can earn playing rugby; they would be about $600,000 a year short, at least. The club is well aware of this and a number of other stumbling blocks, including Suaalii’s desire to support his family and the fact he is managed by an agent, Isaac Moses, with whom the Roosters don’t like dealing.
Land of the free … to air TV
The NRL deserves enormous credit for its bold Vegas vision, but now it’s time to put the deal with Fox Sports to one side and make sure the game’s entire opening weekend extravaganza is seen on free-to-air television.
The NRL has now come to the realisation it is not going to rake in American gambling money, nor is there any significant recognition of the sport in the US.
While attempts to get a foothold in the US are admirable, the 370,000 people who watched the Raiders-Warriors game on free-to-air on Fox in America hardly represents a great leap forward when you consider the US population of more than 340 million.
All the opening round action from Vegas needs to be on free-to-air TV.Credit: Getty Images
The Vegas venture is an “up yours” to the AFL, and a great way to launch the season, but both games need to be on free-to-air TV in future.
This masthead is owned by Nine Entertainment, which has the free-to-air NRL TV rights.
There were some interesting viewing results from round one, including:
- record viewership for a regular-season or finals round;
- total viewership was almost 7 million, a 9 per cent increase from last year’s first round and surpassing the previous highest round (round 1, 2023) by 8 per cent;
- the four games broadcast on Channel Nine attracted 2.6 million viewers – 12 per cent more than in 2024 (2.3 million).
The NRL deserves huge credit for achieving all of that, but it’s time to get an even bigger audience for the game.
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Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
