Will Hopoate stars as Bulldogs turn on style to sink Sea Eagles 30-16

HAVING given up Sunday sabbaticals in 2017, the most religious of Canterbury No. 1s set up three tries to completely destroy the Sea ­Eagles.

Will Hopoate and Aiden Tolman celebrate a Bulldogs try.

WILL Hopoate should have been in church on Sunday.

Instead, he was performing miracles. Or at least one.

For how else would you describe a Canterbury Bulldogs win? And one ­involving six tries?

Yet after winning just once in their past seven games — against likely wooden spooners Newcastle — it was the Belmore Boys who not only rediscovered their backline against Manly but sung the team victory song and, momentarily, loosened that noose around the neck of coach Des Hasler.

And all of it thanks to the Hand Of Hoppa.

That most religious of Canterbury No. 1s who, having given up Sunday sabbaticals in 2017, set up three tries to completely destroy the Manly Sea ­Eagles at ANZ Stadium.

Will Hopoate and Aiden Tolman celebrate a Bulldogs try.

Certainly, the timing was OK, too.

Especially when you recall how last week it was revealed Hoppa could be the first fullback in a decade to go all season without scoring a try.

Which is some statistic.

And a fair summation of the Bulldogs’ bumbling season.

One in which the Belmore Boys haven’t so much lost the art of attacking football but butchered it entirely.

And, no, Hopoate didn’t score.

Still, he orchestrated three.

And all while Canterbury, for the first time in some time, resembled a footy side.

“But Hoppa, he’s been pretty consistent for us,’’ Hasler said.

“He had a couple of nice touches that turned into a couple of nice try assists.”

Marcelo Montoya dives over to score a try for the Bulldogs. Picture: Phil Hillyard

As for how much video had gone into Hoppa and co targeting the Sea Eagles’ left-edge defence, particularly centre Brian Kelly and winger Matt Wright?

“Ah well,’’ Hasler shrugged, “you work on a couple of aspects and they came off today.”

Didn’t they what?

After attacking in recent weeks with all the athleticism of a newborn giraffe finding its feet, the Doggies finally rediscovered their backline.

Moses Mbye was strong. Ditto the Morris twins.

Brett Morris races away to score a try for the Bulldogs.

Winger Marcelo Montoya also bagged a double. Both times, too, from the Hand of Hoppa.

And as for where it’s been all year?

Who knows?

But what we can tell you is that, eight minutes after the break, Hoppa was at it again. This time creating a third try assist for centre Brenko Lee.

And five minutes beyond that, he almost had a fourth. Only this time, his long spiralling pass for Montoya was intercepted by Manly winger Matt Wright.

It was one of the few joys Manly’s edge would have all afternoon.