Lehi Hopoate

[Terry Zarsoff]

Choosing my words carefully:

There is something vaguely (being diplomatic on that score) disturbing about a father and his sons appearing together in what can easily be construed as a beefcake shot.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Choosing my words carefully:

There is something vaguely (being diplomatic on that score) disturbing about a father and his sons appearing together in what can easily be construed as a beefcake shot.

No more disturbing than that he chooses to refer to them as a cartel, given the connotations around that word and the history of Jamil, at least.

 

[master blaster]

We have to wrap him up before he chooses to go on the open market this year, you can bet the rorters will be monitoring this situation for sure

 

[Disco]

Jesus didnt expect John in that shape.

Good for him.

 

[XV-1]

View attachment 29331

Is that the visitors centre at Silverwater jail?

 

[Christol74]

The boys appear to be paying tribute to dads playing career at the Tigers

View attachment 29331

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

👍

Or was John pointing the thumb back in his Tigers’ stint?

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

We have to wrap him up before he chooses to go on the open market this year, you can bet the rorters will be monitoring this situation for sure

It’s a guarantee that they’ll throw everything but the kitchen sink at him to replace Tedesco.

To be honest , unless it’s loyalty , I can’t see how we’ll keep him.

He’s not playing fullback whilst Tommy is there, so that adds to the reasoning to move.

And there’s no way with Turbo & Jake that we can afford him.

The only way I see it.

DCE is sold off to PNG
Turbo moves to 6
Brooks to 7
Lehi on his money plus DCE’s to fullback.

Cannot in any way see DCE still being here , along with Lehi.

 

[frank stokes]

No more disturbing than that he chooses to refer to them as a cartel, given the connotations around that word and the history of Jamil, at least.

There is no point to the Lion pretending to be a kitty…

 

[Eagle 1]

It’s a guarantee that they’ll throw everything but the kitchen sink at him to replace Tedesco.

To be honest , unless it’s loyalty , I can’t see how we’ll keep him.

He’s not playing fullback whilst Tommy is there, so that adds to the reasoning to move.

And there’s no way with Turbo & Jake that we can afford him.

The only way I see it.

DCE is sold off to PNG
Turbo moves to 6
Brooks to 7
Lehi on his money plus DCE’s to fullback.

Cannot in any way see DCE still being here , along with Lehi.

One big plus tho, Lehi loves it here at Manly. Anyway, didn't we do a contract extension with Lehi. Wouldn't get to worked up about it Mark, things have a way of working themselves out.

 

[Dion Johnson]

Combinations

It’s still unclear who will miss out for a spot in Manly’s back five, but you can already pencil Lehi Hopoate in for round one after he again showed his versatility at Leichhardt Oval.

The young gun had a breakout 2024 season and is tipped to be even better this year with reports he is the long-term option at fullback if Tom Trbojevic moves to centre or five-eighth.

Hopoate started on the left wing but moved to fullback where his half break led to the Ray Vaega try which sparked Manly’s second-half mini comeback.

Hot Take

Hopoate only played 14 games last year but still had the sixth-most line-breaks for Manly. He’ll shoot up the rankings this season and finish with at least 20 clean breaks and 15 tries as he announces himself as a genuine star.

Martin Gabor