Lipoi Hopoi’s journey from quitting rugby league and working as a security guard to debuting for the Bulldogs in NRL

Four months ago Lipoi Hopoi was working as a security guard across Sydney nightspots and had given up on his footy dream, until a crisis meeting with Phil Gould and Bulldogs officials convinced him to pick up the boots again.

Canterbury prop Lipoi Hopoi made his NRL debut against Newcastle in Rd 13. Credit: NRL Images.

Just four months ago Lipoi Hopoi was working as a security guard across nightspots in Sydney.

He had quit his dream of becoming an NRL player believing he was never going to cut it.

It wasn’t until a crisis meeting at his Padstow home with Bulldogs officials which helped convince the young forward to give the NRL another shot.

“On the Christmas break I thought about it and I just thought I’m too far away from cracking it,” Hopoi said.

“When all the boys came back to training I messaged everyone and said ‘don’t worry about me, I’m not going to come back’.

“I was working as a security guard and trying to find weekday work. I just thought there was no chance I’d make grade. I’m going to come in here and train as hard as everyone else but I’m not going to play first grade.”

Canterbury prop Lipoi Hopoi made his NRL debut against Newcastle in round 13. Picture: NRL Images

With four weeks away Hopoi dropped six kilograms of muscle. Bulldogs officials Phil Gould, Adam Hartigan and Luke Goodwin met with Hopoi, his mum Joyce and manager Luke Lombardi in February.

It sparked Hopoi to try fight back.

“They told me I’m not as far away as I think and they gave me belief,” Hopoi said.

“My mum was saying they wouldn’t come for no reason. I thought they were just being nice. It helped me come back and train.

“I didn’t know if taking the time off that they would take it the wrong way but they were so understanding.”

Hopoi was offered no guarantees when he made his comeback. In fact he was relegated to Canterbury’s third string Ron Massey Cup side in March before progressing into the NSW Cup.

Lipoi Hopoi celebrates with family after his NRL debut. Picture: NRL Images

Lipoi Hopoi celebrates with family after his NRL debut. Picture: NRL Images

He is on a $1200 per week train and trial contract with the Bulldogs having an option to promote him to a top 30 contract for next season by June 30.

“Even coming back I was just doing it to make people happy,” Hopoi said.

“I wasn’t believing in myself.”

Hopoi slowly made his way back into the NSW Cup and started to draw inspiration from Bailey Haywood who went on to make his NRL debut. The pair spent their youth playing for St George Dragons in Canterbury’s junior league from the age of five together.

Haywood said Hopoi’s talent was obvious.

“The under-15 grand final he had an absolute blinder,” Haywood said.

Canterbury pair Lipoi Hopoi and Bailey Hayward played together in the Bulldogs junior league. Credit: Supplied.

Canterbury pair Lipoi Hopoi (middle row, fourth from the left) and Bailey Hayward (middle row, fifth from the left) played in the same junior club. Picture: Supplied

“We lost. But I knew from there that he would eventually play first grade.

“He is a very quiet and keeps to himself. When it’s time work, he works. The more time you get to spend with him, he comes out of his shell.”

Even as Haywood started notching the first grade games and Hopoi was performing well at NSW Cup, he still did not believe an NRL appearance was on his radar anytime soon. That changed after he took to the field last week to take on Newcastle.

“(Cameron Ciraldo) spoke to me the day before (I knew) and asked when I felt I was ready and I said one more year – he said it’s going to come sooner,” Hopoi said.

“Reed (Mahoney) said I was playing. I felt like I was outside my body. All the boys jumped all over me.

“I told my mum on the phone and I started crying. I knew it didn’t mean as much to me as it did to her.”

Originally published as Lipoi Hopoi’s journey from quitting rugby league and working as a security guard to debuting for the Bulldogs in NRL