The Snitch: John Hopoate wears hoodie with giant finger on it to court

John Hopoate chose a curious outfit when he turned up to court last week to support his son Jamil, with the ex-NRL player referencing his most infamous on-field play.

Dad jokes are bad at the best of times, but ex-NRL star John Hopoate has set a new gold standard.

Even in the face of heavy circumstances like his son, Jamil, getting charged in relation to a shipment of cocaine, it seems Hopoate still knows how to have a laugh.

John Hopoate at Central Local Court last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Christian Gilles

The former State of Origin winger has never quite lived down an on-field incident from 2001 when he was suspended for 12 weeks for poking his finger up the backside of an opposing player while playing for the Wests Tigers.

He’s even had a laugh re-enacting the incident in a charity match and on The Matty Johns Show.

And the latest platform for Hoppa’s brand of comedy was Central Local Court on Wednesday, where he turned up to support Jamil, who has been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of cocaine.

The 47-year-old walked past cameras wearing a black hoodie featuring an unmissable motif — a large hand with an index finger pointed upwards in much the manner as Hopoate did when he infamously inserted his own finger into the rear end of a North Queensland Cowboys player.

The infamous Hopoate finger incident. Picture: Fox Sports

We’re told Hoppa has worn the hoodie a few times.

But likely never during a news event where it would be seen by this many people.

The brand of the hoodie is Muscle Republic, and Hopoate was also wearing one of their hats. A check of the fashion outlet’s website showed Hopoate was not listed among its many brand ambassadors.

Hoppa’s other son, Canterbury Bulldogs player Will Hopoate, wore a sensible suit to the court, where he offered to put $50,000 on the line to secure his brother’s release on bail. It offset his dad’s fashion crime somewhat, but Jamil was still refused bail.

IT ALL ADDS UP

The DPP’s office must have missed the fine print on the “no win, no fee” policy when it comes to criminal prosecutions.

In March, the prosecuting authority was ordered to pay more than $250,000 in legal costs to high-rolling casino junket operator Xiongming Xie.

This came after criminal charges against Xie, who was accused of holding one of his customers at knifepoint, failed so spectacularly that Magistrate Jennifer Giles decided the ODPP (read: NSW taxpayers) should pay for his defence lawyers.

Barrister Winston Terracini. Picture Cameron Richardson

This included more than $187,000 for top barristers Winston Terracini SC and Brian Murray. We understand Xie has paid his legal team and that the money would be refunded to him.

But according to a May 17 email obtained by Snitch, the money has still not been paid and is accruing interest at 6.1 per cent per year — which equates to about $31 per day.

The email was sent to prosecuting lawyer Kimberley McKenzie, reminding her that the ODPP was accruing daily interest. The 54 days that the debt had not been paid had bumped the figure up by $1696 to $189,686.

The email also warned that civil action would be commenced if the amount was not paid. Better get a wriggle on, Lloyd Babb SC, that’s quite a few coffees.

SLEEPING OUT

If barrister Arthur Moses SC is looking a little bleary eyed during the second week of the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial, it will be because he is sleep-deprived.

Moses is set to represent the high-profile soldier in his blockbuster defamation case, but has also signed up to do the St Vincent de Paul’s Sleep Out for charity on June 10.

He has a link that can be found on the Vinnies’ Sleep Out website and is looking for donors.

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