Ex NRL star John Hopoate charged over nasty road rage incident
Video has emerged of ex NRL star John Hopoate in a road rage incident that has landed him in court. But Hopoate says he was not the aggressor. WATCH THE VIDEO
Police & Courts
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Former NRL star John Hopoate gained worldwide infamy thanks to an on-field incident involving his finger – now he’s in more trouble after someone allegedly gave him the finger.
More than two decades after he was suspended for inserting his finger into an opposing player’s rear end, Hopoate will face court this month to contest charges over a nasty road rage incident on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
The 50-year-old former Manly Sea Eagles premiership-winning star claims he did not start the fight – only that he ended it.
He posted a video of the incident to his Instagram account that shows him standing over and pointing his finger at a 38-year-old man laying on the ground on January 4.
Hopoate shouts: “F--king bitch” at the man who tells him to “f--k off” while holding his hands out defensively.
Under the video, Hopoate posted: “When you’re (six foot, eight inches) and think your size can intimidate anyone … when you get out of your car and punch my mirror and (swing) at me during your road rage. You get the BITCH slapped out of you and you start yelling: ‘Help me. Rape’. Then run to the cops like a little bitch that you are and make the complaint lol.
“Doesn’t it suck that you got slapped and cried like a mut, then ran and made a complaint and nothing is going to happen cause you started it”.
A NSW Police spokesman said a 38-year-old man reported an incident to police.
Officers visited Hopoate at his Dee Why home on February 1 and issued him with a $500 infringement notice for offensive behaviour.
Hopoate’s lawyer Mahmoud Abbas said his client has elected to contest the fine in court. “Mr Hopoate denies the allegation,” Mr Abbas said. “He was not the aggressor.”
A police spokesman said the 38-year-old man was also given a $500 fine for offensive behaviour.
“Officers were informed that (Hopoate) and another motorist were involved in an altercation at the intersection of Gould Ave and Rowena Rd, Narraweena,” the police spokesman said.
“There were no reports of any serious injuries.”
Further investigations by the officers revealed Hopoate was allegedly driving while his licence was suspended.
The spokesman said Hopoate was serving a suspension that began on December 27 and was due to expire on March 24.
Police issued Hopoate with a court attendance notice to answer to a charge of driving on a suspended licence at Manly Local Court on May 1.
Hopoate won the 1996 premiership with Manly and also played for the West Tigers and Northern Eagles.
His impressive career was overshadowed by several notorious on-field incidents.
This included being suspended for 12 weeks in 2001, while playing for the Tigers, for inserting his fingers into the buttocks of opposing players. A North Queensland Cowboys player finally complained and triggered a media storm that made news around the world.
Hopoate’s career was cut short when he was suspended for 17 weeks while playing in a second stint for Manly. He attempted a then-legal shoulder charge that went wrong and collected Cronulla Sharks forward Keith Galloway in the head, knocking him out.
Hopoate will face Manly Local Court on April 23.
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