John Hopoate

Who is 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 South Wales State of Origin side. His usual position for most of his career was Wing. He is a former Australian heavyweight boxing champion.

Hopoate was born in Tonga, but moved to Australia with his family while he was still young. He subsequently took up the game of rugby league. Hopoate began his professional league career with the Manly-Warringah side while he was only nineteen years of age. Hopoate did not play as a regular first-grade player until two years later in 1995 where he showed his ability by scoring 21 tries, finishing second in the top try-scoring table to team-mate Steve Menzies. After many controversies his reputation became greatly tarnished and his career continued on a downhill slide, seeing him become the "most suspended player of the modern era". A final incident in 2005 led to him being sacked and he retired from playing. He has since become a professional boxer.