Jamil Hopoate: Former Brisbane Bronco NRL star accused of punching partner in club car park

The career of former Brisbane Broncos player Jamil Hopoate hangs by a thread after full details emerged of the night he allegedly assaulted his partner outside a Port Macquarie club.

Jamil Hopoate. Pic by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Details have emerged of the night NRL star Jamil Hopoate allegedly punched his partner outside a NSW Mid-North Coast club.

Hopoate, 26, was due to face Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday charged with six offences relating to the alleged incident at club Panthers Port Macquarie.

He is facing one common assault charge and two counts of common assault, domestic violence related. He is also charged with driving with middle range PCA, and two counts of stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm.

Jamil Hopoate is facing six charges resulting from last month’s incident. Picture: AAP /Dan Peled

Jamil Hopoate is alleged to have punched his former partner.

The matter has been adjourned for two weeks to allow the off-contract NRL player’s new legal representatives to consider the charges against him. No plea has been entered.

Court documents exclusively obtained by The Mid-North Coast News detail damning allegations against the former Brisbane Broncos player, including that he allegedly punched his De facto partner in the car park of the club before allegedly speeding off in his vehicle.

An apprehended violence order (AVO) application filed by police on behalf of the alleged victim against Hopoate, allege the pair had been having dinner at Panthers Port Macquarie on the night of December 27 last year.

It alleges that at the conclusion of the meal, Hopoate entered the gaming area before his partner began messaging him via text to request that the pair leave.

If convicted, the former Bronco could be rubbed out of NRL. Pic Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

When Hopoate ignored the messages, she entered the room and an argument ensued after he allegedly refused to comply with her request.

When a security guard intervened, both the guard and the victim were allegedly spat on by Hopoate. The victim was then escorted out by security.

When all parties left the club and spilled into the club‘s car park, Hopoate allegedly threatened two guards.

According to the AVO application, moments later after another argument, Hopoate allegedly punched his partner with a “right clenched fist, causing her to stumble backwards and caused her to fall to the ground some distance from where she had been hit".

Following the incident, allegedly captured on CCTV, Hopoate was allegedly seen to speed off in his car before later being arrested by police on the Oxley Highway, Port Macquarie, where he allegedly returned a blood alcohol analysis of 0.095.

Police will allege in court that Hopoate assaulted his de facto partner of six years and two other security guards on the night.

Police describe the incident in their reasons for bail as “callous and horrific in nature, given the size, strength and fitness of the accused to that of the victim”.

“Further, the accused has spat on the victim and a security guard was also spat on,” the document states.

The off-contract 26-year-old had recently returned from QLD to Sydney’s northern beaches to pursue an extension to his NRL career with another club.

He will reappear in Port Macquarie Court in February. Pic AAP Image Dan Peled

Hopoate had been on the Mid-North Coast, staying with his de facto partner’s family.

Just two weeks following his arrest, on January 14, he handed himself in at Manly Police Station where he was charged with breaching his AVO and bail conditions.

Hopoate appeared in Manly Local Court on a charge of breaching an AVO (domestic) linked to the alleged December assault at Port Macquarie.

He pleaded guilty to one count of contravene restriction/prohibition in AVO.

As part of that AVO, Hopoate is not allowed to be in the company of his partner for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol.

Court documents tendered to Manly Local Court showed that Hopoate and his patner went for a night out at the Harbord Diggers Club at Freshwater on Sunday, January 10.

They arrived at the popular club about 6pm and left about 8pm. The court heard that in that time, Hopoate drank six schooners of beer while he played the poker machines or in the club‘s Banksia Lounge.

Magistrate Bruce Williams fined Hopoate $700.

If convicted of the Port Macquarie charges, Hopoate faces being permanently rubbed out of rugby league.

The 26-year-old, who is the son of renowned rugby league star John Hopoate, had previously served a year in jail in 2014 for allegedly assaulting a man at a Sydney pub.

The matter will return to Port Macquarie Local Court on February 3, where pleas are expected to be entered.