Manly Sea Eagles sign Tom Trbojevic understudy Lehi Hopoate to long-term deal, Kurt Donoghoe re-signs with Dolphins
The Sea Eagles have landed a key piece in their long-term planning by securing exciting young prospect Lehi Hopoate to a long-term deal. Elsewhere, the Dolphins have secured the services of a Fijian international.
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Manly have landed a key piece in their long-term planning by securing exciting young prospect Lehi Hopoate to a long-term deal.
It confirms Hopoate’s place as the long-term successor to superstar Tom Trbojevic.
Hopoate has agreed to a new three-year contract which will keep him at the club until at least the end of 2028.
He was already contracted until the end of next year but Manly have upgraded and extended Hopoate who was only on a supplementary contract this year.
Hopoate has been fast-tracked into the NRL after bursting onto the scene last year. He scored nine tries from 14 games.
He will start on the wing for Manly in their opening game against the Cowboys but he has already shown glimpses that he will be a long-term NRL fullback.
Trbojevic is contracted until the end of next season and the Sea Eagles will want to extend his deal but Hopoate will be ready to be a starting No.1 once his own deal expires.
DOLPHINS SECURE FIJIAN INTERNATIONAL
-Peter Badel
The Dolphins have continued their recruitment and retention drive by securing utility Kurt Donoghoe to a contract extension.
Donoghoe has been rewarded for a bumper pre-season with the Fijian Test international inking a two-year deal until the end of 2027.
It caps a remarkable renaissance for foundation Dolphin Donoghoe, who has signed two deals with the club in the space of three months after he was in contractual limbo last year.
A free agent at the end of last season, the 23-year-old was handed a 12-month lifeline by the Dolphins in December to remain at the club for 2025.
But after a sizzling summer, Donoghoe has impressed new Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf with his attitude, triggering a fresh contract extension for another two years.
The former Newcastle lower grader has played 18 NRL games for the Dolphins and was part of the foundation team which pulled off a massive upset of the Roosters in their debut premiership game in 2023.
“The way Kurt trains and the way he competes in matches, he brings a real spark to the game,” said Dolphins CEO Terry Reader.
“Since making his debut for the Dolphins in our first-ever match, Kurt has developed his ability to cover multiple positions, and that is why he is so important to the team.”
Graded as a halfback, Donoghoe has also featured at fullback and hooker during the pre-season, showcasing his adaptability within the Dolphins squad.
His extension ensures the Dolphins retain a highly flexible and reliable player capable of contributing across multiple roles in the years ahead.
The Dolphins have been active with recruitment and retention, having upgraded Max Plath during the week and snaring monster Newcastle rookie prop Sebastian Su’a on Thursday.
The Dolphins have also been linked with English forward Morgan Knowles and are confident of luring the St Helens Test star to the NRL in 2026.
The club has continued their raid on the Knights by poaching monster prop Sebastian Su’a amid fears over the future of key enforcer Tom Flegler.
Having already snared Knights enforcer Daniel Saifiti for this season, the Dolphins have returned to Newcastle to sign the hulking Su’a on a two-year deal.
The son of former New Zealand Test cricketer Murphy Su’a, the 21-year-old will remain at the Knights this season before joining the Dolphins from next year until the end of 2027.
Su’a was off-contract at the Knights and with his future in Newcastle in limbo, the Dolphins pounced to secure his signature.
Originally published as Manly Sea Eagles sign Tom Trbojevic understudy Lehi Hopoate to long-term deal, Kurt Donoghoe re-signs with Dolphins
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