Will Hopoate's brother Jamil also signs with Parramatta Eels from Manly Sea Eagles
- The Daily Telegraph
- October 05, 2011
Source: The Daily Telegraph
A THIRD Hopoate has quit Manly for Parramatta.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that rising star Jamil Hopoate, who some suggest has more potential than older brother Will, has signed with the Eels.
Details of the deal are to be confirmed but Jamil is to move to the Eels with Will and their father John, who will have a coaching role.
Sources claim the Hopoate family will shift across town for a combined figure of about $800,000 a season.
Manly offered Will close to $500,000 a year but he still walked away from Brookvale.
He has agreed to play with Parramatta for two years from 2014, after his two-year Mormon mission.
John is set to collect $200,000 as part of Parramatta's coaching staff.
Jamil, a utility forward in the Jamie Buhrer mould, is just 17 and played his junior representative footy with Manly.
He also played junior rep rugby union but wants a future in league at Parramatta from next season.
The exodus ends a 20-year association between Manly and the Hopoate family.
"Jamil is going to play with his brother," Manly coach Des Hasler said.
"I understand that. Jamil is a fine young player."
Replies
Yes there is.
I believe the third Hopoate, which most thought was John in a coaching role is John Junior, who will probable be playing for the eels in Harold Matthews. This is only a hunch about the third Hopoate signed by Parra.