NRL 2020: John Hopoate says son Jamil is the most talented in his family

John Hopoate has revealed his pride in the redemption story of son Jamil, saying the young Bronco is the most talented of his famous footballing family.

FORMER NRL bad boy John Hopoate says his Broncos debutant son Jamil is the most talented of his children and urged Brisbane’s new enforcer to play by the rules.

Jamil Hopoate will make his NRL debut for the Broncos in the Round 1 blockbuster against North Queensland in Townsville.

At age 25, Jamil will finally play his first NRL game after clawing his way from prison to a first-grade debut.

LIVE stream COWBOYS v BRONCOS and every game of every round of the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

The former junior star was jailed in December 2014 for assault while contracted to Manly and spent nine months behind bars.

Upon his release, Jamil made his way through the lower grades in Sydney and then the Intrust Super Cup with Redcliffe.

He had to convince the NRL he had been rehabilitated to be registered, and last year inked a two-year contract with the Broncos.

Jamil Hopoate will come off the bench for the Broncos. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

About 16 members of the Hopoate family will be at the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville to watch Jamil come off the bench for the Broncos.

Among them will be brother William, the Canterbury Bulldogs star and renowned good guy, and father John, the most suspended player in NRL history.

“I’m very proud of Jamil. I’d say I’m more proud than when Will made his debut, only because of what Jamil has been through,” John Hopoate told The Courier-Mail.

“He should have made his debut in 2015. For what he’s been through over the past five years, to finally get a crack, it means more.

“He’s got more talent than all of my other boys. He’s got more all-round talent.

“He’s always been the rat. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

“I’ve always been big on ‘do as I say, not as I do’ and he’s finally woken up to that.”

Jamil and Will Hopoate together as teenagers when they were in school.

While Will Hopoate debuted as an 18-year-old in 2010 and was a State of Origin star at 19, Jamil has taken a much different path to the NRL.

Jamil’s daughter Nala, 5, was only two weeks old when he was sentenced and John said that was a life-changing moment for his son, one of Hopoate’s 11 children.

“It’s tough seeing one of your kids go to jail,” he said.

“I was angry with him. I love him but he was my problem child out of all of my kids. He was the one who got in drama a bit.

“My motto was always to do as I say, not as I do. He learnt the hard way.

“We tried to visit him every second week as a family. The other week would be his mates.

“He was looked after. I had mates on both sides of the fence – mates that were guards and mates that were crims.

“I wasn’t too worried about him being in there, but it was his first time in there and being a child of mine I feared for him.

John Hopoate (far right) escorts his son Jamil (far left) into Dee Why Police station.

“His daughter was only two weeks old when he went inside. He missed all of that for a year.

“He’s grown up a lot. He is not the baby anymore.

“Everything is about his child. He tries to do everything for his baby girl.”

John Hopoate, 46, played 209 first grade games for Manly, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles but was as well known for his controversies as his playing ability.

He spent a record 45 weeks suspended, and said he wanted Jamil to not copy his father’s on-field antics.

“I spent most of my time off the field being suspended,” he said.

“All the boys have got to do is be good and stay on the field and they will surpass me.

“I want them to be better than me. As a father that’s all you want, your kids to be better than you as a person and player.

John Hopoate squares up with Paul Harragon in 1995.

“Jamil had a bit of a hot streak when he was younger and I talked him out of it because it would get him nowhere. If all you do is get suspended then no-one wants you.

“I think the kid can play but clubs saw he was a bit of a problem child. They wanted him but didn’t want him because of his off-field stuff.

“I hope he gets a few games and can stay there and use the talent he’s been blessed with.

“He has to play like he plays in reserve grade. He will play better that way. He won’t be as uptight.”

MORE BRONCOS NEWS:

WE’RE BIGGER: Haas’ warning to Cowboys forwards

FOR JACK: Broncos say they’ll play for Bird

Jamil will come off the bench tonight as a middle forward, with the Broncos missing experienced forwards Alex Glenn, Matt Lodge and Joe Ofahengaue.

Glenn said Jamil was one of the club’s toughest players, and was looking forward to seeing him in the NRL arena.

“He’s a great dude, very tough ... all Tongan boys are tough athletes,” Glenn said.

“He’s had a killer pre-season. He’s very deserving and I know he’s going to do a great job for us.

“He’s very excited. I just told him to soak it in and smile. This is what dreams are made of.”