Perrett said his condition was life threatening and he was rushed to hospital.
“I was comatose until I woke up,” he said. “Six out of 10 people die in this situation, that’s what the nurse told me when I was in hospital.”
Perrett played in the NRL again after the incident, but said he was never the same player or person afterwards. He made his last first-grade appearance for the Sea Eagles in the 2019 finals series.
“The action is based on the injury sustained and the loss occasioned as a result of the training regimes he was put through,” said Peter Carter, the legal practice director of Carter Capner.
“It resulted in hospitalisation and a serious medical condition. He didn’t recover. He played a few games in the 2018 season but that was really the end of his career.”
The development comes just a week after former Canterbury forward Jackson Topine commenced a $4 million legal action against the Bulldogs, claiming he was subjected to “assault” when forced to wrestle up to 35 teammates during a training session last year.
“That’s a feature of this, sporting organisations are coming under more scrutiny, which they may have escaped in the past,” Carter said.
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Manly were contacted for comment.
Perrett said he was taking the action to honour Titmuss and Benkato “Kato” Ottio, a PNG international who died during a training session. The likely cause of Ottio’s death was exertional heatstroke.
“Out of the three, I’m the only one who survived,” Perrett said.
“I feel responsible not just for those boys and their honour, but for future players. Young guys who will do whatever it takes to be an NRL player to impress their coach and win the trust of their teammates.
“This can’t happen.”
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