John Hopoate’s daughter Pani stars in boys’ rugby league team coached by her dad

THE 12-year-old daughter of former Sea Eagles star John Hopoate is teaching the boys a few lessons on the football field.

Pani Hopoate, the daughter of John Hopoate, who scored five tries playing against boys with the Beacon Hill under 12s. Picture: Martin Lange.

THE 12-year-old daughter of former Sea Eagles star John Hopoate is teaching the boys a few lessons on the football field.

Pani Hopoate — the only girl in the Beacon Hill Bears under-12s, coached by her father — scored five tries against Narraweena last weekend.

“Pani dominates the team in ability and size — she is a machine,” team manager Mandy Herring said.

“We’ve had her for the past couple of years and she has just got better and better. Her skills are better, she’s stronger, more confident.

Pani Hopoate and her dad John. Picture: Martin Lange.

“Pani is a really hard trainer and not intimidated by the boys. She tackles as hard as everyone else and takes hits like everyone else.”

Herring said initially opponents were hesitant about playing against a girl but now they targeted her because she was so good. And Pani was respected by all the boys in the team, including her brother Lehi, who plays five-eighth. “She is a lovely young girl,” Herring said.

Pani, a Year 7 student at Cromer High, asked her dad if she could go to a game last year. After joining the team, she scored five tries in two games.

“I just wanted to have a go and see how it is,” Pani said.

Pani Hopoate is a tryscoring machine. Picture: Martin Lange.

“I thought I would not be very good. It’s fun. I finally get to smash boys for once,” she laughed.

Her dad was reluctant to talk about Pani’s footy skills. “I‘m very proud,” he said. “She is one of my strike weapons.

“A lot of the boys are a little bit intimidated by her because she is so big.

“Being the only girl, she doesn’t get treated any differently. She still gets blown up just like the boys do. She takes it in her stride and really enjoys it.”

Now she has turned 12, Pani will have to stop playing with the boys next year, probably to the relief of rival teams.

That means she will concentrate on netball, where she is also a gun player.