Will Hopoate
Encyclopedia
William "Will" Hopoate also known as Viliami in Tonga (born 9 May 1992) is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin
three-quarter back, he has also represented NSW City. He is the son of former Australian international, John Hopoate
.
Despite a season ending injury to Manly 1st-grade fullback Brett Stewart
in Round 1 of the 2010 NRL season
, Hopoate had to wait until Round 13 to make his debut as coach Des Hasler
preferred to use Ben Farrar
in the custodian role.
William Hopoate is the son of former Manly player John Hopoate
, though other than his physical size, speed, strength and general play, he has shown none of the "bad boy" habits which saw his father often on the sidelines through suspension. Hopoate also represented the Australian Schoolboys team.
In Round 3 of the 2011 NRL season, William Hopoate scored his first ever double against the Newcastle Knights
at Brookvale Oval
. Hopoate was part of the Manly side that defeated the New Zealand Warriors
in the 2011 NRL Grand Final
where he was denied the opening try but did produce a miracle flick pass that sent Glenn Stewart
over the line for a crucial try in the second half.
Hopoate will spend 2012 and 2013 serving a two-year mission
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church), following in the footsteps of fellow league player Lagi Setu
.
Hopoate will join the Parramatta Eels from 2014 on a lucrative deal rumored to be worth approximately $500,000 per season.
On 5 June 2011 Hopoate was selected to play State of Origin
for New South Wales
in Game 2 against Queensland
at ANZ Stadium. He is the second youngest player behind Blues legend Brad Fittler
ever selected to play for NSW and he scored a try on debut helping NSW level the 3 game series at one all with an 18-8 win. Unfortunately for both NSW and his club side Manly, Hopoate suffered what is termed a 'grade two hamstring tear' and could miss up to six weeks leaving him unavailable for the deciding game of the SoO series and leaving Manly without his on-field services for the same time.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
three-quarter back, he has also represented NSW City. He is the son of former Australian international, John Hopoate
John Hopoate
John Hopoate is a former professional rugby league footballer and boxer. He played club football for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles in the National Rugby League competition. Hopoate also gained selection for Tonga, in the Australian national team and in the New...
.
Playing career
Hopoate joined Manly's squads in 2009 at the age of 16 and played the entire year in the Sea Eagles Toyota Cup. He primarily played at fullback but also played on the wing and in the centres.Despite a season ending injury to Manly 1st-grade fullback Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
in Round 1 of the 2010 NRL season
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
, Hopoate had to wait until Round 13 to make his debut as coach Des Hasler
Des Hasler
Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships...
preferred to use Ben Farrar
Ben Farrar
Ben Farrar is an Australian professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League competition....
in the custodian role.
William Hopoate is the son of former Manly player John Hopoate
John Hopoate
John Hopoate is a former professional rugby league footballer and boxer. He played club football for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles in the National Rugby League competition. Hopoate also gained selection for Tonga, in the Australian national team and in the New...
, though other than his physical size, speed, strength and general play, he has shown none of the "bad boy" habits which saw his father often on the sidelines through suspension. Hopoate also represented the Australian Schoolboys team.
In Round 3 of the 2011 NRL season, William Hopoate scored his first ever double against the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
at Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Warringah Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team...
. Hopoate was part of the Manly side that defeated the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
in the 2011 NRL Grand Final
2011 NRL Grand Final
The 2011 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership season. It was played between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors on the afternoon of Sunday, 2 October, and it was the first time the two sides have met in a...
where he was denied the opening try but did produce a miracle flick pass that sent Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
over the line for a crucial try in the second half.
Hopoate will spend 2012 and 2013 serving a two-year mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church), following in the footsteps of fellow league player Lagi Setu
Lagi Setu
Lagi Setu is a rugby league player in the NRL competition, who plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League. Next year Setu will play for Sydney Roosters.-Career:...
.
Hopoate will join the Parramatta Eels from 2014 on a lucrative deal rumored to be worth approximately $500,000 per season.
Representative Football
William is Australian-born, his parents are Tongan however despite that his father represented Tonga, his father also played for Australia on two occasions, New South Wales on one and NSW City on three.On 5 June 2011 Hopoate was selected to play State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
for New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in Game 2 against Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
at ANZ Stadium. He is the second youngest player behind Blues legend Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
ever selected to play for NSW and he scored a try on debut helping NSW level the 3 game series at one all with an 18-8 win. Unfortunately for both NSW and his club side Manly, Hopoate suffered what is termed a 'grade two hamstring tear' and could miss up to six weeks leaving him unavailable for the deciding game of the SoO series and leaving Manly without his on-field services for the same time.
External links
- Hopoate up to it sportal.com.au, 18 March 2010
- He’s Will and able The Manly Daily, 27 April 2009
- Hasler: No Stewart, no worries sportal.com.au, 17 March 2010
- Official biography Manly Warringah Sea Eagles