[1] In the 1970s, Tutty won a landmark court case which removed trade restraints on rugby league players.
He became the youngest player to ever appear in a grand final when Balmain met St. George at the end of that season.
In March 1968, citing unhappiness with the terms of his contract, Tutty applied to the Tigers for a clearance to play with another club.
The New South Wales Equity Court granted Tutty's application to have the League's transfer system declared invalid, deeming it an 'unreasonable restraint of trade'.
In the first two months, South Sydney lost three internationals, John O'Neill, Ray Branighan and Ron Coote.
After two years sitting out of the game, and while still waiting for a legal decision, Tutty returned to play for Balmain during 1971.
A broken arm during the season prevented him from participating in Easts' 38–0 win over St. George in the grand final.
[4] In 2008 the Rugby League Players Association instituted the "Dennis Tutty Clubman of the Year" award presented to the person who has "demonstrated the same qualities of self-sacrifice and courage as Dennis Tutty to achieve a better working environment for his fellow Rugby League Players".