The lawyer representing former Manly prop Lloyd Perrett in proposed legal action against the Sea Eagles has predicted a spat of more civil suits could loom against professional sporting clubs.
Perrett revealed he was planning to launch action over a training session in late 2017, which left him hospitalized with heat stroke after suffering a seizure.
The former member of Queensland’s Emerging State of Origin squad recovered to play again in 2018, but his career fell away and he was released by Manly in 2019.
Perrett’s attorney, Peter Carter of Carter Capner Law, confirmed to AAP the matter was being investigated with the former prop aiming to pursue damages.
Once papers are lodged with the NSW Supreme Court, Manly will become the second club being pursued by a former player over a training incident.
The news came a week after Jackson Topine initiated legal action against Canterbury for close to $4 million in damages following a wrestling session last July.
Topine claims he suffered a “psychiatric injury” after being forced to wrestle up to 36 teammates back-to-back after being late for a session.
Canterbury will deny parts of the claim, having publicly stated they will defend themselves in the civil case.
But Carter foreshadowed the possibility of more cases.
“I do think there probably will be more,” Carter told AAP.
“I think it just means (clubs) will be under the same sort of scrutiny any organization has with their employees or contractors.
“If (players) are injured as a result and their career is affected, they should be able to (pursue damages). That’s a good thing in my opinion.”