John Hopoate pledges to stay out of trouble while he is under an intensive correction order for a driving offence

Former NRL bad boy John Hopoate says he will endeavour to rein in his temper for the next nine months after he was sentenced to an intensive correction order.

Hot headed ex-NRL bad boy John Hopoate has vowed to try his damnedest to avoid potential police trouble after he was sentenced to an intensive corrections order, saying: “I don’t have a temper - unless some d**khead ticks me off.”

The one-time Manly premiership winner, who escaped jail after he was caught driving while disqualified, says he is grateful he avoided jail and landed a nine months suspended jail sentence under supervision, saying, “I’m not p****d off, it’s one hundred per cent better than being locked up.”

Hopoate - who will forever live in NRL notoriety after being suspended for 12 weeks for poking his finger in the buttocks of three opposing players – said his latest brush with the law has made him “turn over a new leaf”.

But the 51-year-old “recidivist traffic offender” added: “I’m nice to everyone, just don’t tick me off without reason. I only have a temper when someone ticks me off.”

Referring to a road rage incident when he was driving along a street in Narraweena in January 2024 and became involved in a dispute with another driver, punching him to the ground, he said: “That guy started it, so I finished it.

“He got out of the car and punched my side mirror, so I got out the car and slapped him around a bit.

“I had my three nieces in the car and he was crying ‘rape’, it was embarrassing.

John Hopoate says he will reign in his temper after he was placed under a nine-month intensive correction order for driving while disqualified. Photo Jeremy Piper

“The cops came to my house and found out I was unlicensed.

“I’m a nice guy until you tick me off without reason. He started it, I know I shouldn’t have finished it, but I did, and that’s what got me in trouble.

“I’ve just got to stay out of trouble now for the next nine months while I’m under the ICO which means I can’t let some d****head piss me off . I’ve got to stay calm, otherwise I go to jail. I’m going to try really hard,” he said.

John Hopoate promises to avoid potential police trouble after he received a nine month suspended sentence for driving while disqualified. Photo Jeremy Piper

“After the incident with that guy, the police came round to talk to me and realised that I wasn't supposed to be driving,” he said.

“I’d have been all right if it wasn’t for him.”

The former Eagles and West Tigers winger, a Mormon, was convicted last Thursday at Manly local court for driving the work truck for five months after his licence was disqualified for 12 months in July last year.

Magistrate Daniel Reiss - who described Hopoate‘s driving record as “horrendous” - handed the former footy player an nine-month intensive correction order which allows him to serve jail time in the community under supervision by parole authorities. He also ordered to serve 100 hours community service.

The former NRL player can reapply to have his licence renewed in September until which he is disqualified from driving. Photo Jeremy Piper

He was disqualified in July last year after being caught driving while suspended when police investigated an alleged road rage incident evolving the ex-player at Narraweena on January 4, 2024. He was not charged over that incident.

He had unsuccessfully appealed the driving disqualification in the district court in September last year and is banned from driving until September 2025 after which he can apply for a new licence.

The father of eleven was caught driving at Collaroy in December and pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified as a second offence.

John Hopoate was charged with two counts of offensive behaviour in public place and fined $500 for threatening a man in a alleged road rage incident in January in northern beaches.

His driving record showed he had been suspended from driving 13 times in the past.

He also had a separate driving while disqualified conviction in 2021.

The court heard he had added 11 camera-spotted driving events to his driving record in 2024.

Hopoate says he owns four cars and many of his 11 children drive them.

“I’m just going to have to stay on the job site now as I can’t drive the tipper truck, and try and be a good boy and not get into any arguments.

“But, like I said I’m not a troublemaker, I’m a nice guy. But don’t tick me off for no reason- if someone starts something I’ll finish it,” he said.

Originally published as John Hopoate pledges to stay out of trouble while he is under an intensive correction order for a driving offence