Jamil Hopoate thrown NRL lifeline by Manly

Bad attitude is a problem that is rife in several young players, and for Jamil Hopoate, this rings true – with the recently sacked Parramatta Eels player given a 1-year lifeline with the Manly Sea Eagles, despite his previous attitude problems.

Hopoate will return to the Sea Eagles, having come through their junior ranks before his move to the Eels who eventually sacked him for repeated infringements – the final straw coming when he went AWOL from a rookie camp.

The club agreed to give him a 1-year lifeline, after Manly coach Geoff Toovey, Recruitment Manager Dave Warwick and his manager Tyran Smith, all agreeing.

Sea Eagles Football Manager Steve Gigg said:

“Jamil understands he is starting over again and is not coming here as a superstar,” Sea Eagles football manager Steve Gigg said.

“We are giving him a chance to prove himself and we will reassess him in June.”

Hopoate’s move back to the Sea Eagles will see him play in the Manly NYC side.

“Jamil was a local junior and we didn’t want him to leave in the first place,” Gigg said.

“But Parramatta offered him a reasonable amount of money and maybe the fact that Will was going there and … he wanted a fresh start were factors.

“We thought we would give the kid an opportunity, it’s a natural fit for us.”

Despite Hopoate’s attitude problems in the past, Manly say there are no strict conditions in his deal.

“In terms of his attitude to training and with us we never had any issue with him,” he said.