dkw Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 St Helens have signed Will Hopoate to replace the departing Kevin Naiqama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo5 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Looked like he was going to be a real star when he burst onto the scene but never really kicked on after he spent time away from the sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSaint Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Personally think this is a poor signing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M j M Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Hopoate, or his agent, has done well for himself there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkw Posted August 9, 2021 Author Share Posted August 9, 2021 1 minute ago, Davo5 said: Looked like he was going to be a real star when he burst onto the scene but never really kicked on after he spent time away from the sport. Didn't he take a sabbatical to pursue some religious life thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Solid dependable player nothing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 1 minute ago, dkw said: Didn't he take a sabbatical to pursue some religious life thing? Yes two years, when he was a lot younger. Not the most overwhelming signing but he’s ‘only’ 29 plus has plenty of NRL and international experience so should be well above average in SL I’d have thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo5 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 4 minutes ago, dkw said: Didn't he take a sabbatical to pursue some religious life thing? Yeah he left Manly to undertake Mormon missionary work for a couple of years before signing with Parra on his return Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbruce Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 1 minute ago, Davo5 said: Yeah he left Manly to undertake Mormon missionary work for a couple of years before signing with Parra on his return Seem to remember he wouldn’t play on Sundays either. Don’t know whether he still won’t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidM Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Maybe he’s continuing his missionary work ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleD Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Think it’s a downgrade on Naiqama personally but he’ll do a solid, dependable job. He’s good defensively Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo5 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Just now, bobbruce said: Seem to remember he wouldn’t play on Sundays either. Don’t know whether he still won’t. Seem to remember him refusing to play on a Sunday for the Bulldogs & stating he wouldn’t play in the Grand Final if they reached it for the same reason. I think he reversed that decision a couple of seasons later,maybe because his next contract might not be as lucrative if he continued that policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo5 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 4 minutes ago, DavidM said: Maybe he’s continuing his missionary work ? In St Helens Good luck with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Kevin Sinfield Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Surprised to read so many negative comments on this signing, very disrespectful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Szymala Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 23 minutes ago, DoubleD said: Think it’s a downgrade on Naiqama personally but he’ll do a solid, dependable job. He’s good defensively I'd say quite the opposite. A class act who will flourish in Saints' backline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hela Wigmen Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Fairly happy with this signing. He’s played in some woeful sides since returning from his Mormon mission and playing as a back behind a pack so regularly bettered by your opposition, it’s tough to stand out. For Tonga though, he’s played well and Woolf has got the best from him. Playing behind a Saints pack that should be fairly dominant, I think he’ll go alright for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Not sure why Hopoate gets so much stick, I think he is a pretty good player. Moving from a team that has been struggling to one that is usually on the front foot may see the best of him. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbruce Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 13 minutes ago, Dunbar said: Not sure why Hopoate gets so much stick, I think he is a pretty good player. Moving from a team that has been struggling to one that is usually on the front foot may see the best of him. Happy he seems a good replacement for Naiqama. Also heard we are getting Lussick in to help spell Roby next year as he picks and chooses his games a bit more next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebennettswinger Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 57 minutes ago, bobbruce said: Happy he seems a good replacement for Naiqama. Also heard we are getting Lussick in to help spell Roby next year as he picks and chooses his games a bit more next year. Agreed. Some don’t seem to rate him but then they probably didn’t rate Naiqama either. Not exactly like for like but a good replacement IMHO who Woolf knows well. The Lussick one is interesting. Not sure where that leaves Smith with Eaves also pushing through? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic Superbeetle Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 4 minutes ago, Waynebennettswinger said: Agreed. Some don’t seem to rate him but then they probably didn’t rate Naiqama either. Not exactly like for like but a good replacement IMHO whi Woolf knows well. the Lussick one is interesting. Not sure where that leaves Smith with Eaves also pushing through? I think Saints have concerns over Smiths long term health with head injuries. He’s started wearing a head guard this year but still rarely featured. Can see him leaving in the next year or so as he’s struggled to develop with constant head knocks. Similarly I’d be surprised if Eaves signs a new contract, he’s just not had the opportunity and Pemberton (our current 19s hooker) will be the next one off the bus… If Roby continues next year we will probably see; 2022: 9 Roby, 14 Lussick 2023: 9 Lussick, 14 Pemberton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebennettswinger Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 11 minutes ago, Magic Superbeetle said: I think Saints have concerns over Smiths long term health with head injuries. He’s started wearing a head guard this year but still rarely featured. Can see him leaving in the next year or so as he’s struggled to develop with constant head knocks. Similarly I’d be surprised if Eaves signs a new contract, he’s just not had the opportunity and Pemberton (our current 19s hooker) will be the next one off the bus… If Roby continues next year we will probably see; 2022: 9 Roby, 14 Lussick 2023: 9 Lussick, 14 Pemberton Thanks for that. Sad for Smith, I don’t like to see any player struggling with that sort of issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graveyard johnny Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 like i said in another thread- the bulldogs persistence to stick with players like Hopoate is the reason they are nailed to the foot of the nrl, have watched most dogs games over the last 3 years and lately its you hardly notice he has been playing- a steady player maybe at best . give our youngsters a chance instead of buying over the hill over rated (vastly over rated in this case) aussies. see you later undertaker - in a while necrophile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moove Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 1 hour ago, graveyard johnny said: like i said in another thread- the bulldogs persistence to stick with players like Hopoate is the reason they are nailed to the foot of the nrl, have watched most dogs games over the last 3 years and lately its you hardly notice he has been playing- a steady player maybe at best . give our youngsters a chance instead of buying over the hill over rated (vastly over rated in this case) aussies. Given Saints first choice 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 13 next season will have all come through their academy that's an odd take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Toppy Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 12 hours ago, Davo5 said: Seem to remember him refusing to play on a Sunday for the Bulldogs & stating he wouldn’t play in the Grand Final if they reached it for the same reason. I think he reversed that decision a couple of seasons later,maybe because his next contract might not be as lucrative if he continued that policy. He did change his mind because the Dogs said no play no contract, as did every other NRL side. So he had a choice lose his entire career or continue with his strict Mormon beliefs. Personally I think this is a really poor signing by Saints and a huge downgrade on Naiquama. He has his faults (namely some poor defensive reads as was shown for Catalans 1st Try on Saturday) but he has a high workrate and good pace, all things Hopoate certainly isn't renowned for. I hope i'm proved wrong and Woolf can bring out the Hopoate from earlier in his career, but personally I think we're signed a bit of a donkey. St.Helens - The Home of record breaking Rugby Champions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidM Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 He may do well in SL , but since his breakthrough at Manly he’s been a massive disappointment . Even in a poor side you can show how good you are , Meaney is off to The Storm , but for years now in the NRL Hopoate just seems there without being very noticeable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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