Manly Sea Eagles sign Tom Trbojevic understudy Lehi Hopoate to long-term deal, Kurt Donoghoe re-signs with Dolphins
The Sea Eagles have landed a key piece in their long-term planning by securing an exciting young prospect to a long-term deal. See the latest transfer news.
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Manly have landed a key piece in their long-term planning by securing exciting young prospect Lehi Hopoate to a long-term deal.
It confirms Hopoate’s place as the long-term successor to superstar Tom Trbojevic.
Hopoate has agreed to a new three-year contract which will keep him at the club until at least the end of 2028.
He was already contracted until the end of next year but Manly have upgraded and extended Hopoate who was only on a supplementary contract this year.
Hopoate has been fast-tracked into the NRL after bursting onto the scene last year. He scored nine tries from 14 games.
He will start on the wing for Manly in their opening game against the Cowboys but he has already shown glimpses that he will be a long-term NRL fullback.
Trbojevic is contracted until the end of next season and the Sea Eagles will want to extend his deal but Hopoate will be ready to be a starting No.1 once his own deal expires.
DOLPHINS SECURE ENGLISH, FIJIAN INTERNATIONALS
-Peter Badel
The Dolphins have continued their aggressive recruitment and retention drive by securing utility Kurt Donoghoe and poaching English Test star Morgan Knowles.
Just days after upgrading Max Plath and luring rookie monster prop Sebastian Su’a from Newcastle, the Dolphins have struck again, retaining Donoghoe and convincing Knowles to test himself in the NRL.
St Helens fought hard to keep the rugged Wales and England Test forward, but the Dolphins have won the tug-of-war for Knowles, who has inked a two-year deal until the end of 2027.
A four-time Super League premiership winner, Knowles is one of England’s most decorated forwards with the 220-game lock to link with the Dolphins in 2026 after completing his St Helens duties.
The move will reunite the 28-year-old with Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf, who previously coached Knowles at St Helens, winning three consecutive Super League grand finals together.
“Morgan is one of the hardest-working players I have had the privilege to deal with,” Woolf said.
“He is an international forward with an elite skill level and importantly, he is a winner.”
Born in Barrow-in-Furness, Knowles joined the St Helens scholarship program at 14 before progressing through their academy and signing his first professional contract with Saints at 15.
The 2025 campaign marks Knowles’ testimonial season in the Super League, having been awarded the honour by the RFL to recognise his achievements and contributions to the code in the northern hemisphere.
On the international stage, Knowles represented Wales four times before chalking up another eight internationals for England.
The hard-working forward was impressive in England’s victorious two-Test series win over Samoa last November, starring alongside future Dolphins teammate Herbie Farnworth.
Knowles will add more international class to a star-studded Dolphins pack headlined by Tom Gilbert, Felise Kaufusi, Kenny Bromwich and Tom Flegler.
“His four Super League titles and one Challenge Cup victory prove that he knows what it takes to win and is just the kind of player we want here at the Dolphins,” Woolf said.
Meanwhile, Donoghoe has been rewarded for a bumper pre-season with the Fijian Test international inking a two-year deal until the end of 2027.
It caps a remarkable renaissance for foundation hooker Donoghoe, who has signed two deals in the space of three months after he was in contractual limbo last year.
A free agent at the end of last season, the 23-year-old was handed a 12-month lifeline by the Dolphins in December to remain at the club for 2025.
But after a sizzling summer, Donoghoe has impressed coach Woolf with his attitude, triggering a fresh contract extension for another two years.
The former Newcastle lower grader has played 18 NRL games for the Dolphins and was part of the foundation team which pulled off a massive upset of the Roosters in their debut premiership game in 2023.
“The way Kurt trains and the way he competes in matches, he brings a real spark to the game,” said Dolphins CEO Terry Reader.
“Since making his debut for the Dolphins in our first-ever match, Kurt has developed his ability to cover multiple positions, and that is why he is so important to the team.”
Originally published as Manly Sea Eagles sign Tom Trbojevic understudy Lehi Hopoate to long-term deal, Kurt Donoghoe re-signs with Dolphins
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