DAILY TELEGRAPH: Revealed- Hopoate Contract Farce

In the old days Mick Cronin survived on a handshake deal during Parramatta’s glory days.

Today Will Hopoate is fighting the same club in the Supreme Court over a controversial $2.07 million offer that the Eels effectively claim wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.

While it has been speculated that Hopoate will join Canterbury next season, the State of Origin winger remains in an NRL pre-season lockout with the dispute due to continue in court next Tuesday.

In what some might say is a sign of the times in the so-called world of professional rugby league, The Daily Telegraph can reveal the finer details of a stunning three-year offer that was put to Hopoate last April.

Documents lodged in the Supreme Court show that not only was an offer made by Parramatta, but it was signed by Hopoate and returned to the club.

But because a subsequent NRL Playing Contract, also signed by Hopoate, was never lodged with the NRL, Parramatta’s defence claims that it did not constitute a “binding contractual agreement”.

Parramatta’s defence filed in the Supreme Court that on April 9 Hopoate’s manager Tyran Smith was sent an “offer” for a combined package worth $670,000 for 2016, which increased to $690,000 in 2017 and $710,000 in 2018.

That figure included in addition to a playing fee, that the club would use “reasonable endeavours” to assist in securing Third Party Agreements that scaled up from $175,000 in 2016 to $200,000 and $225,000 in 2018.

Then on April 16 Parramatta’s defence claims Hopoate entered into a separate NRL “Playing Contract” that was worth $500,000 for 2016, $525,000 in 2017 and $550,000 in 2018.

But for some reason the two sets of figures don’t add up, even when you take into account the NRL’s controversial TPAs that the club cannot guarantee.

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The most glaring shortfall was for 2018, with a discrepancy of $45,000 between the “offer” and the playing contract, while in 2016 it was a $5000 shortfall and then $35,000 in 2017.

Parramatta’s defence claims the Players Contract included “terms that were materially different to those contained in the offer”.

None of the figures were included in Hopoate’s statement of claim.

Hopoate agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Eels.

Regardless, Hopoate’s legal representatives are claiming that Parramatta informed Hopoate’s manager that the contract would be registered.

But it now has the potential to have significant ramifications on Parramatta’s finals hopes for next season.

The Daily Telegraph understands if the Eels are forced to pay any money to Hopoate it will then be registered on their salary cap for 2016.

That represents a considerable problem given the Eels are also currently trying to prove to the NRL why they shouldn’t start next season minus four competition points because of previous salary cap dramas that came to light in May — just a month after Hopoate agreed to the offer.

Parramatta parted ways with former chief executive Scott Seward in June.

The club has until February 29 to prove to the NRL that they don’t deserve to be docked the four competition points, but they can’t afford another salary cap bungle.

The Daily Telegraph attempted on several occasions to contact Hopoate’s legal representatives without success.

Hopoate is expected to link with the Bulldogs.

Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp told The Daily Telegraph last week that the club had moved on from Hopoate, and was confident it would meet the NRL’s governance guidelines.

Asked for his thoughts on the tangled mess, Cronin said: “What do you say, it is the way of the world. It is a farce.

“I come from a different era.

“It is a bit of an indictment on the game but it might be an indictment on society in some ways.

“Once upon a time you signed a contract and you’d honour it.

“I preach loyalty but it happens on both sides now.

“You can’t say it is just the players, and you can’t say it is just the clubs.”

Never a dull day in rugby league....

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Replies

Wile E. Coyote November 19, 2015 at 9:49pm

How could anyone think he was worth that much?
Who is responsible?
Kurupt November 19, 2015 at 10:00pm

Those figures are fückin ridiculous!
Outrunna November 19, 2015 at 10:18pm

The Nrl clubs need to take on the same model as the NFL. Nfl players have a portio of their contract guaranteed and they can be signed to a much higher contract which is basically match payments on top.
That way they can drop a player if his forms drops or trade him to a different club1
- The Pegsy > Outrunna November 21, 2015 at 2:36pm
  
  Fully Agree... Eliminate most of this rubbish
Blue and gold 4ever November 19, 2015 at 10:22pm

Where is kram. I told you that this will be included in our salary if wins this case
- Carloeel > Blue and gold 4ever November 19, 2015 at 10:27pm
  
  Jesus Christ , Allah and everybody else . This is shite . This pretender is not even worth a weetbix box ...... Did this person do ' maths in space ' ffs ????
Hugo November 19, 2015 at 10:37pm

All this is media speculation.
Schubert is the best appointment we have made for a long long time.
Blue and gold 4ever November 19, 2015 at 10:46pm

Sorry kram, I do apologise it was mack that said that hoppas case will not count towards our cap if hoppa was to win the case. Iam sorry once again
- Alfred Mateo > Blue and gold 4ever November 19, 2015 at 11:04pm
  
  Hey rookie, I think Mack will reply to you shortly but the comment 'the daily telegraph understands' is far from being the truth. I'll believe it if the nrl comes out publicly and states it but can't see any reason why they would tell the telecrap before anyone else
  - Blue and gold 4ever > Alfred Mateo November 19, 2015 at 11:29pm
    
    Hi Alfred. The only thing Iam saying is on another blog regarding the hoppa case, I was trying to tell mack that if by any chance the courts rule in hoppa favour than parra will need to make up the difference of his contract. Example: if Bulldogs only offer hoppa $300000 than parra will than need to pay the balance of that contract. This will than came out of our cap over the next 3 years. Mack and a few others on this site believe that it will not count. Let's wait and see wat happens with the case. As I said the hoppa case is stoping parra from making any more possible signings for 2016.