With Hopoate signing the Eels go Good Will Hunting
Columnist By Melanie Dinjaski, 7 Oct 2011 Melanie Dinjaski is a Roar Expert
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- Manly Sea Eagles, NRL, parramatte eels, Rugby League, William Hopoate
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William Hopoate makes a break for Manly. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay
It’s official. The Parramatta Eels yesterday confirmed they have signed Manly young-gun Will Hopoate for 2014 when he returns from his two-year sojourn from the NRL on a religious mission. But will Hopoate be as good two years out of the game?
The Parramatta contract is believed to be worth $800,000, a figure Manly could not match, which led to Hopoate switching allegiances away from the team his father played for.
So is this money well-spent for Parramatta?
CEO of the Eels Paul Osborne, has confirmed the signing was a “calculated gamble” citing research the club did about US athletes who had undertaken mission work and returned successfully.
Hopoate, a member of the controversial Church of Latter Day Saints, is not the first Mormon to abandon rugby league to go on mission.
Hopoate’s uncle Albert, Bronco Lagi Setu, the Titans’ Jordan Rapana, Bronco and former Sharks and Broncos player Fraser Anderson, have all postponed their NRL careers to serve as missionaries around the world. There are also other notable Mormons in rugby league who have opted out of being a missionary, including Warrior Krisnan Inu, the Broncos’ Ben Hannant and AFL convert Israel Folau.
Those who completed mission work have returned with mixed results. Jordan Rapana converted to rugby union, signing with Western Force earlier this year. Fraser Anderson also converted to rugby union, joining Japanese rugby club Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers.
Beyond the appeal of quoting the Blues Brothers line “We’re on a mission from God” I personally can’t see why anyone would want to do what Hopoate is doing. But that doesn’t mean his decision shouldn’t be respected. Hopoate obviously takes a lot of pride in his faith, and if that’s what he wants to do, then all power to him.
However I still question the faith Parramatta have shown in the youngster.
Parramatta are certain he will be able to come back just as good, if not better in 2014. At just 19, there’s every chance this will be the case.
But here are some things to consider;
Though based in Brisbane, Hopoate will serve his two years spreading the religion cities and towns all around the state, moving every six weeks or so.
While on mission Hopoate will be up at 5.30am every morning to begin his duties. He will not be allowed to watch television, he’s not allowed to date, his possessions will be left behind, he can’t use the internet unless emailing family, he can only phone family on special occasions like birthdays or Christmas, and most importantly he is not permitted to play sport.
He can only do light exercise.
No matter how young or how fit he is now, after two years of mission work, Hopoate will not be in a good position to immediately re-enter the professional rugby league ranks.
Not only will he physically be behind the rest, but the nature of the game today means it is constantly evolving. NRL is getting faster, harder, more precise, and more skilful every year.
There’s no doubt the premiership back will do everything possible to make his return successful. No doubt. That’s the mark of a champion athlete. As everyone keeps saying, he may even come back mentally stronger having completed his spiritual mission. Being 21 in 2014, he’ll certainly still be young enough to have a shot at rebuilding his career.
But will Hopoate be as good?
Whether this is a masterstroke from the Eels to snap him up, or whether this will be an epic fail, is yet to be seen.
I guess only time will tell.
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You can follow Melanie Dinjaski on Twitter @MelanieDinjaski.
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- Explore:
- Manly Sea Eagles, NRL, parramatte eels, Rugby League, William Hopoate
October 7th 2011 @ 6:23am
p.Tah said | October 7th 2011 @ 6:23am | Report comment
I find Parramatta so frustrating. They don’t do things by halves (no pun intended). Their recruitment is always a’calculated gamble’ they fork out hugs sums on players like Mortimer, Poore, Sandow and now Hopoate and his entourage. Why? They have one of the biggest talent pools on their door step. They should look to harvest them and build a team of champions rather than trying to recruit A champion. Who spends $800k on a wing!
Look at last weeks Grand Final… How many playing were ex Parramatta juniors/seniors?
October 7th 2011 @ 4:27pm
David Heidelberg said | October 7th 2011 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
You forgot Tahu and Shackleton, quality buys.
Judas Lyon, Joe Galavao, T-Rex Williams, Feletti Matteo, Krisnan Inu and that is just off the top of my head from the GF.
October 7th 2011 @ 6:25am
Steven Robertson said | October 7th 2011 @ 6:25am | Report comment
I personally think Parramatta have gone MAD….come 2014 nearly 40% of their salary cap will be spent on only 3 players…..Hopoate, Sandow & Hayne.
Hopoate might only touch the ball a hand full of times in any given game.
So Parramatta have got 60% of the cap left and they still haven’t spent a cent on a forward where every club needs at least 10 of first grade standard to have any chance of making the semi-finals allowing for injuries & origin etc……..nar!! Parra have gone MAD in my view.
October 7th 2011 @ 7:24am
oikee said | October 7th 2011 @ 7:24am | Report comment
Stand and rejoice Parramatta, we have signed Hoppa, yipee. Hold on, dont get to excited, he is not playing next year. OH.
Yippee, he is starting in 2013, yippee, hold on fans, dont get to excited, he is not starting in 2013, oh
He will be here in 2014 god forbid, yippee, hope the fans are still around then, maybe they might all have left to go on a mission, of deserting this club in droves.
Talk about a false dawn. Just hope Sandow decides to turn up to training.
October 7th 2011 @ 9:47am
Bearfax said | October 7th 2011 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Ah the new Manly plunderers….Parramatts….only just pipped by Sydney City, Souths and Canterbury. As a Manly supporter I say bah humbug. But hey we had our time of plundering and unlike some supporters from other clubs I wont ‘hate’ those clubs for making ‘good’ investments…..mind you Sydney City deserves the hate tag. But good luck to Parramatta and to young Hoppa and his brother Jamil (oh and dad too….coach?….yeh whatever). But be careful Parra…you now have a bunch of rich kids in Sandow, Hayne and Hopoate (and his brother years away from grade yet getting over $100000 off the cap) and this may cause some problems with other teammates. Bet Burt, who I rate higher than Hayne, must be spitting chips. Parra has a great junior area but I wonder if they will now be able to afford to hold onto the ones they want. But good luck to them….I quite like Parra and live in the area so genuinely good luck to them.
October 7th 2011 @ 4:29pm
David Heidelberg said | October 7th 2011 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
Manly plucked Tony Williams from Parra’s juniors with a 200k a year offer, kind of undermines your point.
October 7th 2011 @ 4:58pm
Bearfax said | October 7th 2011 @ 4:58pm | Report comment
Look I’m giving your team the thumbs up for its plunder on this one. Seems a comment cant be made without it being criticised whether positive or not. As for Williams, though I agree a damned good player and seems destined for tests, he was not in the Hopoate class and will never be (excuse the pun). He was a big lump of a lad with potential who Dessie had to work on big time for 2 years to get value out of him…he was just a big hard runner before and certainly not first on Parra’s retention list.
Hopoate is like getting a Fulton, Gasnier, Price or Lockyer at the beginning of his career. This kid will make Hayne look ordinary. This is like Raper being grabbed from Newtown, Thurston from Canterbury, Alexander and Fittler from Penrith. The Williams grab was small pickings…..but dont worry DH. With the money you’re splurging on Hoppa, Hayne and Sandow, doesnt leave much for a potential champ coming through your junior ranks….and we’ll be watching.
October 7th 2011 @ 10:45pm
peeeko said | October 7th 2011 @ 10:45pm | Report comment
he was already playing first grade when they signed him
October 7th 2011 @ 10:00am
Steve Hitstirrer said | October 7th 2011 @ 10:00am | Report comment
The Crystall Ball is out again as people try and predict what will happen in 2 years…
Let the kid get on with his 2 years out and judge him when he puts on the Eels jersey.
I for one think that Parramatta will be a force next season, write them off at your own peril.
October 7th 2011 @ 7:00pm
Melanie Dinjaski said | October 7th 2011 @ 7:00pm | Report comment
Thanks for your comment Steve. I do hope Will makes a successful comeback. As you say, we can only accurately judge until he puts on that yellow and blue jersey. But until then, the situation does bring into question whether a successful move is possible. Considering the circumstances, I’m sure I’m not the only person who has some concerns over the likelihood of that…
October 7th 2011 @ 10:35am
Bearfax said | October 7th 2011 @ 10:35am | Report comment
I think some subscribers are under rating Hopoate’s ability and likely role. Some are talking of him playing wing. He only played wing at Manly because the full back and centre positons were occupied by class players. No way will he play wing at Parra. My best guess is he’ll play centre. full back or maybe even five eighth, depending upon where they use Hayne and Burt. When he was playing centre at Manly, he was already a champion player and have no doubt….this kid is worth the money and will be a champion International in future and by 2016 in huge demand at 23 years of age. His brother Jamil may even be better.
October 7th 2011 @ 11:53am
drongo said | October 7th 2011 @ 11:53am | Report comment
if you look at parras record and recruitment strategy over the last say, 15 years, it would be fair to say that they have more money than sense.
October 7th 2011 @ 12:49pm
Soul Ranch said | October 7th 2011 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
In two years time he’ll still be in better shape than Carl Webb was this year.
October 7th 2011 @ 6:45pm
Melanie Dinjaski said | October 7th 2011 @ 6:45pm | Report comment
Apples and oranges Soul Ranch. A big orange! Carl Webb is a prop/forward, Hopoate is a winger/back.
October 7th 2011 @ 7:38pm
p.Tah said | October 7th 2011 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
I think you mean lemon…
October 7th 2011 @ 7:31pm
Billy Plonker said | October 7th 2011 @ 7:31pm | Report comment
If the Plonkers at Parra have taken on Wil’s Dad their guaranteed trouble. Even Des Hasler couldnt control the out of control Plonker .I think his manager Mr Smith along with other managers have only one objective, to line their pockets before weighing up the players well being by uprooting them from a stable environment
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October 7th 2011 @ 10:48pm
peeeko said | October 7th 2011 @ 10:48pm | Report comment
Melanie, what numbers have you heard for his annual contract? the ever reliable daily telegraph has suggested 500k plus his Dad onto the coaching staff for 200k. Which raises 2 questions – 500k , not too sure there are any other outside backs in the NRL on that money (let alone going away for 2 years). Also 200k for his Father? this seems ridiculous and a way to get around the salary cap. Then again i read it in the telegraph
October 8th 2011 @ 7:07am
drongo said | October 8th 2011 @ 7:07am | Report comment
if you read it in the daily telegraph than it’s fiction…that’s what the murdoch press does best