Hopoate cops lifetime Tigers ban but denies abusing CEO, Turbo tries to give contract money back to Manly

John Hopoate has been barred for life from all Wests Tigers functions after angrily confronting NSWRL CEO David Trodden at a 25-year anniversary dinner on Friday night. 

The controversial former winger, who was a part of the joint venture club’s inaugural team in 2000, made a scene at the function when he ripped into Trodden over the NSWRL’s decision to prevent him from playing in a local third-grade competition alongside his son Will.

“It was a really disappointing way to end what was an excellent night,” Richardson told the Sydney Morning Herald. 

“Hoppa was in Dave’s face about why he had been barred from the NSWRL. He’s not welcome at any future Wests Tigers functions.”

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The 50-year-old had received a 10-year suspension in 2018 for a series of incidents while playing in the Manly A-grade competition but the second half of the ban had been suspended, meaning he was entitled to apply for a return to the playing field this year.

“I didn’t cross the line with Dave. There were no dramas, I just asked Dave Trodden why the NSWRL would not clear me to play,” he told the SMH.

“I never abused him, I never threatened him, and all he kept saying was, ‘This is the wrong time’. I asked him why it wasn’t the right time because I wasn’t given a reason in any emails.

“All I wanted to do was play third-division at Narraweena with my son Will and some of my first cousins this year. 

“The only thing I did wrong was swear at him.”

NRL rejects Turbo’s offer to repay Manly

Manly star Tom Trbojevic has reportedly offered to take a pay cut of $750,000 to repay the club for his lack of availability over the past few years.

The representative fullback is on $1.15 million a season but has been plagued by hamstring and shoulder injuries.

He has played 16 matches this year after managing just 55 in the previous five seasons. 

The 27-year-old offered to have his contract reduced as a show of good faith but the NRL salary cap auditor has rejected the proposal as it would set a precedent that clubs could exploit, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report.

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold tried using Trbojevic at centre midway through this season after he returned from his latest hamstring tear but an injury to Tolu Koula meant he was switched back to the No.1 jersey the following week.

Trbojevic has been in top form at the back for Manly, scoring three tries in a lone hand in their loss to the Tigers last week, and will be a key member of their side when they take on Canterbury in a crucial clash at Accor Stadium on Friday night.

Ciraldo tells Dogs to embrace hype

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has told his players to embrace the hype around the Bulldogs, adamant it won’t become an issue ahead of the NRL finals.

The Bulldogs have quickly become the fairytale story of 2024, having officially wrapped up their first finals appearance in eight years.

Street parties have become a constant in Belmore after wins in recent weeks, including after victories in Bundaberg and Auckland.

A crowd of close to 27,000 is expected at Accor Stadium for their blockbuster against Manly this week, which would double as the highest-ever NRL attendance for a Friday 6pm game outside of Magic Round.

But while clubs regularly try to avoid such hype, Ciraldo has told his players to take it in, with the advantage of 10 men in their first-choice 17 who have played finals before.

“It’s good for us to realise we’re inspiring people with the way we’re playing and style of footy we’re playing,” Ciraldo said. 

“Our boys really thrive on that, hopefully it grows over the next few weeks.

“It’s because our purpose has been really clear about why we want to play finals and get this club back to where it belongs. 

“It’s not a (weight of) expectation to us, it’s something we really value, it’s really unique to our club. We’ll continue to enjoy that.”

A win against the Sea Eagles would be enough for the Bulldogs to wrap up a home final, unless they rise even further up the ladder and claim a top-four finish.

But despite being unbeaten in home matches at Accor Stadium this year, Ciraldo insisted a top-six finish was not make or break for the Bulldogs.

“It would be nice, but I think we have shown over the past six weeks that we are capable of playing anyone anywhere and at any time,” Ciraldo said. 

“There was a lot of talk about our away record at the start of the season that I wasn’t too concerned about, because we were doing a lot of things really well. 

“We’ve proved to ourselves and everyone that we can play away from home and do a great job.”

Canterbury will get Josh Curran back from a shouder injury for Friday, countering Kurt Mann’s season-ending collarbone surgery. 

Captain Stephen Crichton has accepted a one-game ban for his high tackle on the Warriors’ Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

But Ciraldo pointed to two of the Bulldogs’ best wins this year against Brisbane and Newcastle as proof his club could perform without their biggest-name player.

“That’s what we’ve done well as a club, that next-man-up mentality,” Ciraldo said.

“I’ve got no doubt the boys will come in and do that this week.

“He (Crichton) is going to be able to work on himself in the next week and a half and get himself ready for the (final-round) Cowboys game. It’ll benefit him in the long run.”

with AAP