NRL 2021: Will Hopoate open to NRL return, Bulldogs cut Lachlan Lewis, Dylan Napa, Renouf Atoni

Will Hopoate will play his last game for the Bulldogs this weekend but it might not be his last in the NRL.

Lachlan Lewis is under investigation by the Integrity Unit after allegedly attempting to sell a speaker purchased by the NRL. Getty Images)

Will Hopoate will play his last game for the Bulldogs this weekend before heading to the Super League – but he has not ruled out an NRL return.

While committed to playing the next two years with St Helens in the UK, the departing Bulldog revealed his NRL career may not be over.

“I’ll never say never,” Hopoate said.

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“Rugby league is a wonderful and interesting thing and I will certainly not rule (returning to the NRL out) it out. I am intending to finish up there but who knows if an opportunity comes to come back to the NRL. Time will tell.”

Fronting the press for the final time as a Bulldog, Hopoate also revealed that he has agreed to continue playing on Sundays even though his preference would be to sit out because of his religious beliefs.

Will Hopoate will play his last game for the Bulldogs this weekend. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Hopoate is a devout Mormon who quit the NRL for two years to take part in a religious mission. “My faith means more than me to footy,” he said. “But in respect to my duties to them I will be playing whenever we are scheduled to play.”

While Hopoate hasn’t given up on returning to the NRL following his stint with St Helens, many are expecting the 29-year-old’s career in Australia to end this weekend when the Bulldogs tackle the Tigers.

Having debuted for Manly as an 18-year-old in 2010, Hopoate has played 180 NRL games during his three-club career.

Quitting a lucrative contract with the Sea Eagles to take his two-year sabbatical, the son of Manly bad-boy John Hopoate made his NRL return with the Eels before switching to the Bulldogs.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” Hopoate said.

“I suppose I will sit back in the off-season and ponder those things. I am just taking this week as normal. It is just another game and my preparation does not change.”

Hopoate said he had no regrets over his decision to quit a big money deal with Sea Eagles to go on his Mormon mission.

“It was a blessing for my life,” Hopoate said. “I was better for the experience and those experiences I had on the mission continue to bless my life.”

MOVING ON: 12 BULLDOGS SHOWN THE EXIT

The Bulldogs have confirmed embattled half Lachlan Lewis, former Origin prop Dylan Napa and promising forward Renouf Atoni will all leave the club at the end of the 2021 season.

With Lewis currently facing an integrity unit investigation for allegedly selling speakers provided to the club by the NRL, the 24-year old has played his final game for Canterbury after missing out on the side fort he club’s season finale against the Tigers.

Napa has been named on an extended bench with the 28-year old former Queensland forward on the hunt for a new home for next year.

Atoni, one of the club’s best players this season, has been linked to a move to the Roosters.

Lachlan Lewis is under investigation by the Integrity Unit after allegedly attempting to sell a speaker purchased by the NRL. Getty Images)

Dean Britt, son of former captain and premiership winner Darren, will also not be retained with hooker Sione Katoa, backrower Chris Smith, outside back Falakiko Manu and late-bloomer Brad Deitz among the other names the club will move on.

Canterbury are assured of the wooden spoon, having won just two matches this year, and will have a host of big-name recruits for next season with Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr, Tevita Pangai Jnr and Paul Vaughan all joining the club.

THE DOG POUND

Dylan Napa, Will Hopoate, Lachlan Lewis, Nick Meaney, Renouf Atoni, Sione Katoa, Dean Britt, Chris Smith, James Roumanos, Brad Deitz, Watson Heleta, Kiko Manu.

Bulldog’s practical joke goes terribly wrong

Lachlan Lewis may have played his last game for the Bulldogs after becoming the focus of an NRL Integrity Unit investigation.

In what Lewis has described to Canterbury officials as a practical joke gone-wrong, the off-contract half tried to sell an NRL-purchased sound speaker on eBay for around $500.

It is understood Lewis - the nephew of NRL champion Wally Lewis - tried to sell the speaker that the NRL had supplied to Canterbury’s team room at their Brisbane hotel.

The item was pulled down for sale when a club official was alerted to the supposed “joke”.

The NRL confirmed the integrity unit were investigating the matter to determine if Lewis was attempting to profit from the stolen goods.

Any sanction is not expected to be severe.

Lewis was named to play at five-eighth for the Bulldogs against the Sea Eagles on Sunday.

However, Jake Averillo, who was listed in the reserves has passed a fitness test and is expected to replace Lewis in the starting side.

Lewis is without a contract at Canterbury next season and has been told he won’t be retained.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Will Hopoate open to NRL return, Bulldogs cut Lachlan Lewis, Dylan Napa, Renouf Atoni