McCracken has $20m real estate
By Kylie Williams
February 15, 2005
FORMER rugby league international Jarrod McCracken owns about $20 million in real estate despite claiming to have lost income due to the premature end to his career, a court was told today.
McCracken injured his spine and neck when he was spear tackled during a National Rugby League (NRL) game between his team, Wests Tigers, and the Melbourne Storm on May 12, 2000.
The former New Zealand captain claims the tackle ended his first grade career.
He is suing the two players involved in the tackle, Stephen Kearney and Marcus Bai, and the Melbourne Storm for more than $750,000 in damages and loss of income.
The 34-year-old father of four told the NSW Supreme Court today he currently owned properties to the value of about $20 million.
"What is the gross value of properties owned by you or businesses associated with you at the moment," counsel for Melbourne Storm Mark Williams SC asked.
"I'd say about $20 million," McCracken said.
McCracken said he would have between $15 million and $16 million in mortgages.
He also told the court that during his first grade career he did not tackle players by grabbing one leg, as done to him during the game against Melbourne Storm, because he knew it would result in a spear tackle.
"You get coached not to do that because it's in the rules and it results in a spear tackle," he said.
McCracken says the tackle was intentional and done with intent to cause injury.
At the time of the incident, McCracken was on a two-year contract for the 2000 and 2001 seasons on a fee of $300,000 a year.
"By reason of the injuries sustained in the subject tackle, the plaintiff was prevented from returning to playing professional rugby league football and his employer, Wests Tigers, terminated its playing contract with the plaintiff," according to his statement of claim, tendered to the court.
McCracken said earlier in the hearing that he would have continued his professional rugby league career, either in England or the NRL, if he had not been injured.
The loss of his career also caused McCracken to suffer from depression, the court was told.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
Courtesy of Fox Sports
Sell a couple of houses. he will pay hes medical bills.
This guy has got plenty of money.
