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7th Tackle: 'Dangerous recreational activity' ended McManus career

Newcastle's response to the lawsuit from James McManus has been lodged; the Knights claiming their ex-winger suffered career-ending concussions as a result of a "Dangerous recreational activity", otherwise known as rugby league.

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The landmark case returns to the NSW Supreme Court tomorrow. We've sighted copies of both McManus's Statement of Claim and Newcastle's seven-page defence.

In his claim, McManus outlines a series of facial and head injuries he suffered between 2012 and 2015. He says "vomiting and disorientation" followed several of the incidents.

The Knights also referred McManus to a neurologist in 2015. That appointment found McManus was suffering from "confusion, disorientation, memory disturbance and balance impairment".

Nonetheless, he played again before retiring and has now been left with "permanent brain damage".

McManus' case returns to court on Friday. Pic: Getty
McManus' case returns to court on Friday. Pic: Getty

McManus claims the Knights should have been aware of the long-term risks of concussion at the time, and therefore forced him into retirement as early as 2013.

In response the Knights claim McManus knew the risks inherent with a contact sport as ferocious as rugby league, among them multiple concussions.

The game is described in the defence document as a "dangerous recreational activity" carrying obvious risks to its participants.

The Knights state their staff did everything within reason to mitigate those risks and treat McManus's injuries appropriately.

Club CEO Matt Gidley has also filed an affidavit denying McManus's claims and defending his staff.

The wicked irony is that McManus currently answers to Gidley in his commercial role with the club.

Twitter: @Josh_Massoud and @LiamCox_TV
Twitter: @Josh_Massoud and @LiamCox_TV