Eels star J’maine Hopgood talks about Origin debut
Rugby league star J’maine Hopgood has shared how making his Origin debut felt and the heartfelt words his coach Billy Slater had for him at the end of the match.
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Making his first appearance for the Queensland Maroons was everything Hervey Bay’s homegrown hero J’maine Hopgood thought it would be.
The 25-year-old Parramatta Eels player and former Hervey Bay junior made his State of Origin debut off the bench on Wednesday night as the New South Wales Blues were defeated 10-38 at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
In front of 80,000 screaming rugby league fans, Hopgood got his chance to take to the field in the second half of the match.
“It was an unreal experience, a dream come true – everything I thought it would be,” Hopgood said.
He said the experience was a bit of a blur, but what stood out was the atmosphere and the pace of the match.
“It’s the occasion and atmosphere, that was what I found was the biggest difference,” he said.
“Looking back now, I’m really happy.”
Hopgood said he had a small crew of people in Sydney cheering him on.
“I wouldn’t be here without them,” he said.
“If the game was in Brisbane we might have had half of Hervey Bay there.”
The talented player made his debut for the Panthers in May 2021, receiving his jersey and becoming the 600th first grade player for the Panthers on his birthday.
Hopgood joined Parramatta for the 2023 season and has quickly become one of the team’s most valuable players.
Hopgood said it was special to be surrounded by players he idolised growing up while in the Maroons camp, including coach Billy Slater.
He said to be in the same room and playing under those players was “surreal”.
Hopgood said he’d had a good idea of when he would be going on the field and, being surrounded by 12 of the best players in the world, he knew all he had to do was play his own game and back his ability.
He is hoping to be back in the squad that will head to Melbourne to take on the Blues in three weeks.
He said being part of Wednesday night’s experience had only made him hungrier to be selected again and he was determined to continue his good form for the Eels.
While Hopgood is enjoying life as one of the NRL’s top players, his life hasn’t been without its share of heart ache.
His father, Dale Hopgood, died of a heart attack after playing a game of rugby league for the Hervey Bay Seagulls on March 24, 2007.
He was just 39.
Hopgood said he was sure his dad was watching over him as he made his debut, although he was focused on the game and wasn’t consciously thinking about it at the time.
“It was actually Billy who reminded me about it at the time,” Hopgood said.
Hopgood said at the end of the game, Slater said he was proud of him and he was sure someone else upstairs was proud as well.
“That meant a lot,” he said.
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