Police withdraw offensive conduct charge against former NRL star John Hopoate

Police issued John Hopoate with a fine for offensive conduct after an apparent “road rage” incident with another driver. A year on, they suddenly changed their tune.

Police have dropped an offensive conduct charge against former NRL bad boy John Hopoate, a year after video footage emerged showing the one-time Manly premiership winner in an apparent “road rage” incident with another driver.

Hopoate, who will forever live in NRL infamy after being suspended for 12 weeks for poking his finger in the buttocks of three opposing players, was driving along a street in Narraweena in January 2024 when he became involved in a dispute with another driver.

Video footage posted to Hopoate’s Instagram account at the time showed the 50-year-old standing over the other man, pointing a finger at him and yelling.

Below the post, Hopoate insisted he was not the instigator of the melee.

“When you’re (six-foot-eight) and think your size can intimidate anyone when you get out of your car and punch my mirror and swung at me during your road rage,” he wrote.

A still image from the video posted by John Hopoate. Hopoate can be seen standing over the second driver.

“You get the BITCH slapped out of you and you start yelling HELP ME RAPE. Then run to the cops like the little BITCH that you are and make a 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 lol.”

Police charged Hopoate with driving with a suspended licence and issued both he and the other driver with $500 fines for behaving in an offensive manner.

Hopoate pleaded guilty to the driving charge, with a court ordering him off the road for 12 months and fining him $1000 in the wake of his shocking traffic record, which showed he had been suspended from driving 13 times in the past.

Meanwhile, Hopoate elected to contest the offensive manner charge, with the matter set down for a hearing on Thursday.

But in a surprise twist, police revealed the case would no longer proceed and formally withdrew the charge against him.

Hopoate, pictured leaving court in September 2024. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

Hopoate, pictured in 2004 during his playing days. Picture: Mark Evans. Rugby League A/CT

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No reason was given for the about-face.

Outside court, Hopoate’s lawyer, Feddy Kak, said his client was relieved at the outcome.

“The team at Abbas Jacobs Lawyers worked diligently to see this end result,” he said.

“We’re glad that Mr Hopoate can finally put this chapter behind him and move on with his life.”