NRL 2020: Broncos’ Jamil Hopoate eyes move amid salary cap pressure
The Titans, Dragons or Bulldogs could be a future home for the forward with the Broncos struggling to find the funds to table an offer.
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Brisbane’s salary-cap pressures could force late-blooming back-rower Jamil Hopoate out of the Broncos.
The Sunday Mail understands the Titans, Dragons or Bulldogs could be a future home for the forward with the Broncos struggling to find the funds to table an offer for the son of Manly great John Hopoate.
The 25-year-old is off-contract at season’s end and his manager Simon Healey has begun exploring the open market to find a club for the hard-running back-rower.
Hopoate has been offered to South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett, who politely declined the approach.
“Jamil would love to stay at the Broncos but with the salary cap there may not be room for him,” Healey said.
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“Jamil has a five-year-old daughter in Sydney and he would like to be closer to her naturally.
“It’s tough for Jamil. He is off-contract this year, his preference is to stay at the Broncos because he likes the club and the people but he has to look at all opportunities.
“His dad and mum would love him to come back to Sydney to be closer to his daughter.
“At 25 years of age, ideally he would like the security of a two or three-year deal which would allow him to play his best football week-in, week-out.
“There’s some interest from a few clubs. It’s challenging at the moment because we don’t know the exact salary cap for next season, but we’re testing the market and seeing what’s available.”
Hopoate has played four NRL games this season after making his Broncos debut in their round-one defeat of the Cowboys.
Healey denied claims the Broncos are trying to offload Hopoate.
“Any suggestion the Broncos are trying to release him is not right,” he said.
“Jamil travelled with the Broncos as 18th man for the Warriors game (on Saturday night).
“The Broncos have some salary cap restraints so they’re not sure if they can offer him anything.
“He and ‘Seibs’ (coach Anthony Seibold) had a really good chat the other day about the things Jamil needs to do to get back in the team.
“We’ve reached out to every club for next year. If a club offered him a deal for this year, we would have that discussion with the Broncos about an immediate release, but for the moment Jamil is doing his best to play NRL for Brisbane.
“The new style of footy suits Jamil, he has great feet, he is strong and has great energy, so his skill-set makes him an asset to anyone.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Broncos’ Jamil Hopoate eyes move amid salary cap pressure