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Daily Telegraph reporter Phil Rothfield announced on the weekend that Bulldogs fullback Will Hopoate is set to sit out several of Canterbury’s matches played on a Sunday for religious reasons.
With the backing of coach Des Hasler, Hopoate will sit out Rounds 10, 11 and 12 with a potential grand final in October remaining in jeopardy.
Now before I get any further I would just like to note that I am indeed a Bulldogs supporter. However, my stance on this issue will be completely impartial.
This topic was brought to my attention today not by the story itself but the response online. Many respondents spoke about their belief that Hopoate is doing the right thing by himself; having full support from the Canterbury club.
Other ‘keyboard warriors’ posed the idea that Hopoate was doing nothing more than portraying religious extremism.
As sports analysts and human beings in general, we are all entitled to have our own opinion. But can someone tell me how the Bulldogs custodian is performing an act of religious extremism?
The NRL has several members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Perrett brothers, Sam and Lloyd, within the Bulldogs system are prime examples.
So why should a man who has taken a two-year break from the competition to perform Mormon missions be criticized for holding onto his faith while competing at the highest level.
Coach Hasler and the club have given Hopoate their blessing. So have the rest of the players.
This isn’t some holiday during the crucial stages of the NRL season. If we want the NRL to put players first; let Hoppa do his thing.
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