J’maine Hopgood named in Panther’s grand final team

Hervey Bay’s NRL star has spoken after being named as part of an extended squad to take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the grand final this weekend.

Former Hervey Bay Seagulls football star J'maine Hopgood is set to make his debut for Penrith Panthers.

Hervey Bay’s NRL star Penrith Panthers player J’maine Hopgood has been named in the extended squad set to face the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the grand final this weekend.

But he says it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t make it onto the ground.

The former Hervey Bay Seagulls junior is loving being part of grand final week, taking in all the excitement of the occasion.

“I’m stoked just to even be in the 22, to be around it all,” Hopgood told the Fraser Coast Chronicle.

Last year, the Panthers made the grand final and Hopgood had enjoyed the build up to that occasion too.

But this year, he made his debut for the NRL side and was especially handy for the club during the Origin season when some of its biggest names were out.

The club lost the grand final to the Melbourne Storm last year, but Hopgood said that just gave the club additional motivation.

Hervey Bay's J'maine Hopgood celebrates his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers on May 16, 2021.

In 1991, when the club claimed its maiden and only title, it had lost the grand final the year before in 1990.

Hopgood said the team was hoping that’s an omen this time around.

Former champion Penrith player Royce Simmons had spoken to the players during the year to give them an insight into winning that grand final, he said.

In a rematch of last year’s grand final, the Panthers were able to hold off the Melbourne Storm in the preliminary final on Saturday, winning 10-6.

Hopgood, who was acting as ballboy on the sideline, said it was nerve-racking, but he was impressed with the way the team scrambled and held on to the small lead.

Pics for Under-20s Qld-NSW preview on Maroons young gun J'maine Hopgood.

The club has had a mix of training, recovery and reviews this week as they build to Sunday’s main event.

On Tuesday, the team was on the Sunshine Coast at a fans’ day, meeting and greeting supporters of the game.

As a Covid outbreak impacts on Brisbane, players from both teams have had to face the possibility that the NRL grand final could be moved to Townsville.

But Hopgood said the team wasn’t fazed and was used to adjusting on the run.

“It will be a blockbuster,” he said.

“The boys will come out with all guns blazing.”