When Canterbury-Bankstown spruiked Will Hopoate’s signing from Parramatta at the end of 2015, Bulldogs coach Des Hasler boasted, “Will will be a valuable and experienced acquisition for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and I look forward to him joining the club.”
But how valuable is Hopoate?
In a watershed moment for all those religiously-inclined professional athletes, Hopoate successfully fought for an additional provision in his Canterbury deal. Due to his Mormon beliefs, Hopoate wouldn’t be playing any football on Sundays.
But how much is a player worth that decides when he is or isn’t playing?
Canterbury are on a slippery slope right now, and in the worst possible form imaginable. If the script continues, Penrith will put a cricket score on the Bulldogs this weekend and the Belmore club will be bundled out of the finals race without as much as a whimper.
Hopoate will be watching from a distance with Brett Morris expected to take his place.
And if the Bulldogs turn it all around and make it to the big dance on the first weekend in October, Canterbury’s “valuable” acquisition will be about as useful as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest if he sticks to his guns.
If he doesn’t and opts to play he’ll be branded a hypocrite.
It seems Mr. Hopoate is allowed to have his cake and eat it too – so far.
“I am comfortable with that [not playing Sundays],” Bulldogs captain James Graham said on Monday.
“Will’s faith makes him the person who he is.
“We all support his decision.”
Bulldogs players might support his decision personally but professionally it must be hard to stomach.
Hopoate is well within his rights to argue that his religion doesn’t allow him to play sport on Sundays but Canterbury and other potential suitors are within their rights to say, “you’re not worth as much as you once were because we can’t use you on Sundays.”
It’s cold but it’s true.
Hopoate needs to figure out whether he’s a pro athlete, Mormon or if he’s going to be both – needs to face the fact that he’s devaluing his worth as a footballer. Not as a man; he has substance, something others lack. But this isn’t going to help him financially.
Players continually talk about setting themselves and their families up for life because they’re only in the game for a limited amount of time. So why can’t Hopoate put his religion aside like plenty have done before him and play the game?
Good luck to the guy. At the end of the day, Canterbury agreed to his terms.
The fact is, a full-time Hopoate is worth $450-500,000. A part-time Hopoate is worth $300,000.
Newcastle legend Matt Johns was full of praise for the utility back.
“I just tip my hat to William because he’s a bloke that will stick to his beliefs and he puts his religion above his sport,” Johns said on Triple M.
“He sees his religion as the most important thing in his life, along with his family.”
Hopoate will be 25 next year and his best seasons are ahead of him.
If he’s happy to skip Sundays for the rest of his career, he’ll potentially cost himself millions of dollars.
That’s if clubs catch on, and rest assured – they will.
bearfax
Guest
Oh come on Brissie Boy. Only fundamentalists believe Christ was born on 25th December. If you knew your history you would know that 25th of December only became Christ's birthday around the early 4th century CE and was most likely chosen because it matched with the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere which was effectively in many northern cultures the birth of the Sun God which Constantine worshipped prior to becoming conveniently a Christian, as he slaughtered his enemy. Sunday as the Christian Sabbath also only came into official being about that time. Before that it matched the Jewish Sabbath which began at sunset of Fridays and ended on sunset Saturdays. So much of what Christianity is, is an amalgam of many faiths that preceded it, as are all modern religions.
Brissie Boy
Guest
SL Craven Sunday is extremely important within the Christian scriptures as it was the day of Jesus' resurrection. There is also no evidence that Mithras was born on the 25th of December as the only possible piece of evidence to support this most likely refers to the Roman festival of the Sun which was held on that date. Can't fault your other points though.
bearfax
Guest
What, because I'm putting forward my point of view. Religious people always find those who question belief, anti-religious. Being agnostic means I dont know. But I know one thing. If everyone who believes in a religion thinks they are right, how if they are all so different can they all be right.
Jacko
Guest
Your last post there explains your anti stance completely
Jacko
Guest
Yes the player who came in to replace hoppa is making such a sacrifice and must feel so let down by Hoppa's decision.
Jacko
Guest
A team is a group of players
bearfax
Guest
Actually The Barry, I'm agnostic. But I was training to be a Methodist minister back in 1975 at Leigh College, worked for a time at Central Methodist Mission with Alan Walker and Fred Nile, and was a house parent for street kids with Sydney City Mission. I'm actually quite conversant with religious issues and that's why I know so much of it is just dogma, without any serious basis. Just as an example the Sabbath was always a Saturday, actually Friday evening to Saturday evening. It became a Sunday in Christian circles in about the 5th or 6th century after Christ lived. But like so many traditions and dogma, people just accept things as they're told without any real sense of whether its true or why it exists.
Jacko
Guest
Religion raises 80% of all money for charity and provides care where no one else bothers so while I choose not to follow a religion I am extremely glad we have some religion in the world
Jacko
Guest
You certainly couldnt call the NRL gods league
Jacko
Guest
So I guess the Cowboys players were working when they threw eggs at cars then? Dumb statement. 24/7 is a load of crap. I cant help but feel you are critizising something you despise and know nothing about
Jacko
Guest
You must hate players who have season ending injuries then
Jacko
Guest
I think you have some very anti religion thoughts and luckily for you thats allowed in Aus. Religion is also allowed in Aus and if this young man chooses this path then it wont make a difference in your life. You seem to believe that the doggies cant win with him out so what would happen if he was injured playing on a saturday? Would his mates dislike him for that? There was a relitively unknown player called Michael Jones who had similar beliefs and didnt play on sundays but he played for this team called the All Blacks. He is still revered in NZ rugby for his rugby deeds and his religion has somehow never held him back from achieving legend status. His beliefs give another player a chance they may never have had, and who knows where that may lead that replacement player in his career. Perhaps it is you who are not getting the grasp of human nature.
bearfax
Guest
There's no question that mateship exists. But it is dependent upon supporting each other. Mates at war died for each other. How would they see it if their mate decided not to be at war today and left his troop when they needed him. Extreme I know but mateship as I said depends on knowing the guy next to you is there no matter what in support.
bearfax
Guest
Come on The Barry. Think it as if you were in that team. Think of the chance to win the comp, raise your worth, get a good contract. These guys are not from the 1970s comp when they had primary jobs and played for the love of the game only. They love the game, but this is primarily about fame and fortune. They have a fifteen, maybe twenty year window, to make enough money to secure a good life in future. Many of these guys have no other skill. When the party is over, the big bucks end. This is about business first and foremost and you want to have the best chance of making the most money. If you think these guys are happy little turkeys with what Hopoate is doing, , I suggest you're not getting a grasp of human nature.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That line of debate is ridiculous. You have a position that Hopoate's club and team mates aren't happy with the arrangement. The coach, CEO and players all come out and say they are fine with it. You say "yeah, but is that what they REALLY think' You can argeu anything with that line of reasoning.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Perhaps, but I think that being naive is better than being provincial in one's thinking which I have seen a lot of with regards to this (non) issue. Is it true then that mateship only works on the field? If so, it puts a very poor light on this fundamental 'criteria' of Australian sporting culture. Heaven forbid, even in the professional sphere, that mateship only applies when it isn't being tested.
bearfax
Guest
I think you're being a mite naive there buddy. These guys are there to succeed, make money, and impress to achieve better contracts. Mateship is there, but its second tier I can assure you.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
If they are 'teammates' who knows? They may very well support Hopoate. You know, as mates would...
bearfax
Guest
And do you really think the team and club are happy about it? They will say all sorts of kind things that are politically correct, but is that truly what they believe. Its like someone who works with you and for religious reasons cant work one day a week, and on that day you bring in a casual who isnt as effective or doesnt know the job as well, and you and your work mates who work the full week have to work extra to cover for the loss. Then that person gets exactly the same wage that you do. Is that fair? The grand final this year is on SUNDAY 2 October 2016. What if Canterbury make that match? Is it logical if you have a player available who chooses not to play. And what happens if they win. Does Hopoate deserve payment and the premiership ring? Sleiman, if this was just a social game with friends, everyone would understand. No sacrifice. But it isnt a social game. Its a business affecting people's livelihood. Professional teams depend upon stability in their playing ranks to maintain structure and effectiveness. Lose an important player who is part of those structures and you diminish the effectiveness of your team. Teams who lose important players through suspension or injury often are less likely to win. Cam Smith missed the grandfinal against Manly several years ago. Manly won 40-0. Not saying Cam Smith would have stopped that rot but they would have been more competitive. Manly failed this year primarily because so many players were injured and cohesion could not be achieved. When you are part of a team that trains together over months, you become like a machine. Replace a machine part with a lesser component or a component not in balance and its effects the machine. And in Rugby League its not just about you. Its about the team, the sponsorship, the support base, people's income. As they say no person is bigger than the game. Hasler grabbed Hopoate because he knows how good he is. He made the concession because he wanted to get Hopoate. Do you really think he was happy about the 'Sunday' arrangement? Do you think his team mates are happy with it? Suppose half your team assumed this position of not playing on Sunday. That's the danger of this precedence. No club would allow it, and rightly so given its a professional business.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
And yet Bearfax, a third option is actually playing out before our eyes.