NRL 2023: Panthers star Soni Luke handed concerning act notice ‘Hopoate-like’ incident on J’maine Hopgood

Penrith hooker Soni Luke has come under the microscope of the NRL match review committee over a ‘John Hopoate-like’ incident involving former teammate J’maine Hopgood.

Soni Luke has been given a concerning act notice by the NRL match review committee for this incident with Parramatta forward J'maine Hopgood. Credit: Screenshot.

Penrith hooker Soni Luke has been issued with a concerning act notice by the NRL match review committee over a John Hopoate-like incident involving former teammate J’maine Hopgood.

Footage of the incident did the rounds on social media on Friday morning and also caught the attention of the MRC, who issued Luke with a warning.

“The match review committee has today issued the Panthers with a concerning act notice following the actions of Soni Luke,” an NRL spokesman said.

Soni Luke has been given a concerning act notice by the NRL match review committee for this incident with Parramatta forward J'maine Hopgood. Credit: Screenshot.

Luke was involved in a two-man tackle on Hopgood with teammate James Fisher-Harris on Thursday night during the Panthers’ shock loss to Parramatta at BlueBet Stadium.

As he rose to his feet, he appeared to reach between Hopgood’s buttocks with his fingers.Hopgood reacts by lashing his leg out.

What in the John Hopoate is going on here? pic.twitter.com/MiZcPQIdRj

— Josh (@JoshCrip) August 25, 2023

Luke rises to his feet and runs back into the defensive line. The pair are believed to be good mates but that didn’t stop the MRC intervening as they gave Luke a wrap over the knuckles.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Panthers star Soni Luke handed concerning act notice ‘Hopoate-like’ incident on J’maine Hopgood