Former NRL prop Lloyd Perrett has launched legal action against the Manly Sea Eagles, claiming the club’s alleged negligence during a 2017 pre-season session left him with permanent injuries and a derailed career.
On Monday, Perrett’s lawyers filed a lawsuit in the NSW Supreme Court, alleging he was denied water and proper care while training in sweltering conditions at the Narrabeen Sports Complex.
The then-22-year-old collapsed during a third 2km time trial, suffering a seizure and later waking up in hospital with a diagnosis of severe heat stroke.
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‘He had many good years ahead of him’
The suit, lodged by Brisbane-based firm Carter Capner Law, argues that Perrett’s promising career was cut short by the incident, with damages potentially “well into the millions of dollars.”
“Despite the injury, Lloyd attempted a comeback, playing 10 or so games in the 2018 season and five in 2019. That was the last time he played NRL level,” said Peter Carter, director of the law firm.”
“Given he was a very successful player at such an early stage of his career with arguably many good years ahead of him, the potential damages are well into the millions of dollars.”
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Perrett was reportedly part of a 30-man group put through intense drills on a hot November day in 2017. His claim alleges no water breaks were allowed and that performance coach Dan Ferris explicitly told players there would be no hydration during the session.
The former Bulldogs forward, who signed a $500,000-a-year deal with Manly in late 2016, also represented the club in the NRL Auckland Nines and was named in Queensland’s emerging Origin squad.
Since Perrett’s collapse, the NRL has strengthened its player welfare policies around heat stress and safety during extreme weather training.