Jamil Hopoate has become the second player NRL club Manly have sacked in barely a week.
The Sea Eagles confirmed on Thursday they had terminated Hopoate’s contract after the 20-year-old was sentenced to a minimum of one year in jail for a violent assault.
Last week Manly tore up the contract of prop Zane Tetevano after his court appearance on domestic violence charges.
Manly issued a statement on Thursday afternoon saying Hopoate’s sacking was with immediate effect and that the NRL’s integrity unit had been informed of the decision.
Moments later Hopoate’s brother and Parramatta star Will offered a message of support on social media.
“We still a team amongst the challenges.. I love my brother jhopoate #hopoate #family,” he posted on Instagram along with a photo of Jamil and his siblings with father John.
Jamil Hopoate – the second eldest son of former NRL bad boy John – on Wednesday pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company following an attack on Alexander Christie and “good Samaritan” Timothy Blackett outside a Manly hotel in February.
He was sentenced to a maximum of 18 months for the attack on Christie and a two-year good behaviour bond over the assault on Blackett.
The Sea Eagles were also forced to dump Tetevano last week after he pleaded guilty in court in Newcastle to eight of 11 assault charges.
The Sea Eagles had only offered Tetevano a one-year contract last month.
Tetevano pleaded guilty to charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, destroying property, common assault and stalking with intention to inflict fear or physical harm.
He will be sentenced on March 5.
pot stirrer
Guest
I dont see how manly can say they sacked him when he's going to gaol. What will be interesting is if they resign him when he is released
Casper
Guest
The Russell Packer interest from a range of clubs is all about someone who can make a difference to their roster, Jamil Hopoate & Tetavano would hardly be classed as key buys, so they're expendable and have been dumped as they should be. I'm all for second chances but sportspeople seem to lose the ability to count when the player can improve a clubs fortunes. It would be nice to think Packer wouldn't be registered by the NRL for at least the 2015 season, he and his supporters will cry about losing his livelihood but he didn't care much about the bloke he bashed & stomped on. Makes you think John Hopoate must have had nothing to do with Will's upbringing, he seems to have turned out a decent person.
Paco
Guest
Good stance on both players by manly. Why the red V want Russell Packer though drives me right up the wall.
Mals
Guest
Well done Manly. We don't need thugs like Jamil in the NRL or NSW cup. I hope the prison sentence for his 2nd eldest son finally gets the message across to John Hopoate that being a poor role model to his children can have drastic consequences. It's time to act like an adult John & keep your hands to yourself.
Josh
Guest
Just like his old man. What a muppet