Jamil Hopoate looks to keep NRL dream alive with Brisbane Broncos

As we continue profiling some of the lesser known Broncos, we look at 24-year-old Jamil Hopoate, who is looking to turn his life around at Red Hill.

THE Broncos have settled on their top 30 roster for 2020 and there are some lesser known names added to the list.

The Courier-Mail has picked five Red Hill recruits to profile who are gunning for a regular spot in the Broncos NRL team next year. Today we look at Jamil Hopoate.

Jamil Hopoate in the Intrust Super Cup game between Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Redcliffe Dolphins. Picture: AAP Image/Renae Droop

A “moment of madness” changed Jamil Hopoate’s life around in 2014 and the 24-year-old is still fighting to keep his NRL dream alive at Red Hill.

The son of former Manly bad boy John Hopoate and brother of Bulldogs gun Will, the Broncos back-rower is on a road to redemption after spending nine months in jail for assault.

Back in 2014, he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after he and a group of mates punched and kicked a man outside a Sydney pub.

He was 19-years-old. He also spent his 20th birthday behind bars.

Hopoate is still looking to make his NRL debut – he played in a Broncos trial match against Souths Logan in February.

He has been toiling away in the Intrust Super Cup, playing 19 games for the Redcliffe Dolphins in 2019, in the hope of getting the call up to the big time.

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Now a father to a young daughter, Hopoate told The Courier-Mail in February that he was hoping to be a better role model for his girl.

“Jail is no place for anyone,” Hopoate said.

“Dad just told me to focus, knuckle down and scrap all the partying and all the bullshit.

“Now I am putting my best foot forward and hopefully ‘Seibs’ (Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold) sees that and chooses me one day.

“It was scary in jail. No-one wants to ever go through that, I don’t wish it upon anyone.

“But it’s made me the man I am today … now I want to be a better person and role model for my daughter.”