Will Hopoate lodges claim against former club Parramatta Eels for $1.83 million

SPORT CONFIDENTIAL: Will Hopoate demands a fortune from the Eels, Cameron Williams has been snubbed by his old bosses and why has Channel 9 clipped the wings of Yvonne Sampson.

Bulldog Will Hopoate during the round 3 NRL game between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Parramatta Eels at ANZ Stadium,Homebush.Picture Gregg Porteous

THE damages Will Hopoate is seeking from the Parramatta Eels over the contract saga is a whopping $1.83 million.

That’s the figure listed in an official statement of claim lodged with the Supreme Court on Thursday. There was a directions hearing where a mediation date was set for May 12.

Both parties could come to an agreement before that date. Should they fail to do so, then the player and club can proceed to an actual hearing.

Hopoate’s barrister Julieanne Levick told Sports Confidential it was inappropriate to comment on a matter before the courts, but matters such as this were generally resolved at the negotiation table between counsel.

The $1.83 million works out to be roughly what Hopoate stood to earn from his three-year deal with the Eels that never eventuated.

Tendered court documents state Hopoate signed a three-year contract on April 10 and returned it to the Eels. But the Eels never registered the contract with the NRL.

While it has been widely accepted any cash Parramatta had to stump up for Hopoate over the messy dispute would count towards their salary cap, the NRL denied that was the case.

An NRL spokesman said if a player did receive damages from as club, it was not likely to count towards the cap.

Parramatta are already in the spotlight over the cap and recent allegations of dodgy third-party deals.

Hopoate now couldn’t be happier at new club Canterbury.

FOX DON’T WANT WILLIAMS

FORMER Channel 9 rugby league presenter and Weekend Today show host Cameron Williams looks to have come to the end of the line after being snubbed by his old bosses for a hosting gig on Fox Sports News.

Williams parted company with Nine in somewhat acrimonious circumstances earlier this year after demanding a bigger role at the network and heftier pay packet.

His manager, Sharon Finnegan, contacted Fox Sports several weeks ago seeking a top job for Williams which would put him at the forefront of a revamped Fox Sports News. She was knocked back, with bosses secretly concerned Williams’ past at the network would return to haunt them.

The 52-year-old was accused of sexually harassing a makeup artist in 2001 although indecent assault charges were dropped. Fox Sports did not renew Williams’ contract.

Williams — who denied any wrongdoing — went on to become one of the faces of Nine’s league coverage and an all-round presenter in news and current affairs. He left several months ago and has also been rejected by Channel 7.

Why has Channel Nine clipped Yvonne Sampson’s wings.

STRESSED UP TO THE NINES

WE are hearing the drum is beating louder for new Channel 9 sports boss Tom Malone, who has wasted no time bringing back oldies Peter Sterling and Paul Vautin while clipping the wings of the immensely talented Yvonne Sampson.

Sterlo was handed back some of his old hosting gigs after Malone was appointed, and “Fatty” was reinstalled in the commentary box for big matches. Not all is well, though, as we keep hearing Sampson is disappointed with her diminished role.

Malone has not had a long honeymoon period. We are hearing his network of egos is not altogether happy with the way things are under the new boss.

Even Gus Gould has had a word to say about Malone, which we’re told was not exactly complimentary.

High contact no mention Cameron Smith @NRL @TripleM_NRL have a look #GRUB #mouthguard #WadeGraham https://t.co/bbuapU2MaI

— Greeny (@gusgreeny) March 30, 2016

SMITH STAYS GUARDED OVER SHARKS’ ANTICS

Storm skipper Cameron Smith clearly wasn’t happy with the Sharks’ pesky antics last Monday. Asked afterwards if he had expected the niggle, Smith said: “Yep.’’ Silence followed.

Smith later became a hot topic on social media after he was spotted picking up a mouthguard during the game and slipping it into his sock. Initially it was thought the mouthguard belonged to Wade Graham, who copped a whack to the mouth moments later from Smith.

But Graham never wears a mouthguard. Smith’s teammate Dale Finucane could have been the owner.

YOU SHALL NOT PASS

PARRAMATTA have conceded the least number of points of any NRL sides after four rounds. The last Eels side to concede fewer points after four rounds was back in 1993. But fans shouldn’t get too excited — the ‘93 dream fell apart badly. In five round of 1993, Parramatta was belted 42-6 by Canterbury, and the Eels limped along to finish 11th by season’s end.

Penrith hope the new Academy can help them compete at the top.

GUS’S SOLUTION IS ACADEMIC

GUS Gould hopes the brand new $22 million Panthers Rugby League Academy will help “retain and recruit’’ new players as the gap between the “haves and have nots’’ widens.

In Gould’s own words, he knows the Panthers “don’t have the financial resources some of the big boys have ... in terms of managing salary caps and rosters’’.

Most fans would assume Brisbane and the Bulldogs are just two clubs with clout when it comes to paying third-party deals.

And Gould said: “I don’t know if we want to get into that fight to try and match that.’’

Gould, however, said the academy would play its own role in making sure the local talent weren’t tempted to look elsewhere.

Valentine Holmes had a shocker against the Storm.

TROUBLE AT HOLMES

THERE may have been a bit more to Valentine Holmes’ shocker for Cronulla on Monday night.

“Off-field problems’’ was the response Holmes gave Sport Confidential to explain his performance as he left Southern Cross Group Stadium.

ROOSTERS RETURN UNLIKELY

JAMES Tamou has attracted interest from his former club the Sydney Roosters. Sports Confidential understands the big Blues prop has considered a return to Sydney but is leaning toward staying in Townsville and re-signing with North Queensland.

Originally published as Will Hopoate lodges claim against former club Parramatta Eels for $1.83 million