John Hopoate has reportedly been issued a breach notice for unauthorised entry onto the field of play by NSW Rugby League after a physical altercation at a SG Ball trial game on Saturday.
South Sydney officials called police to a brawl that broke out at the game at Erskineville oval on Saturday involving a junior Manly player and a spectator.
Unregistered player Henry Alesi was found to be the ‘aggressor’ in the fight after an NSWRL investigation according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Alesi will be banned from being registered in any NSWRL competition should he attempt to, while another spectator, Manly Jersey Flegg player Siua Fotu was given a ‘formal reprimand’ by the club.
A witness told the Herald that one of the men was left with a “ripped shirt and blood everywhere,” while another witness described the incident as “sickening.”
Fotu was not deemed to instigate the confrontation, but another Manly player, James Malau’ulu, who was playing in the game, left the bench to be involved verbally.
Malau’ulu was in a verbal altercation and his actions have been deemed “unacceptable”, now facing a ban until round three of the SG Ball season.
“The NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said the organisation was satisfied with the actions taken by Manly towards their two players and no further action would be taken by NSWRL,” the organisation said in a statement.
“It is a privilege to play the game of Rugby League and it comes with the obligation of maintaining appropriate standards of behaviour,” Manly CEO Stephen Humphreys said in a statement on the club’s website.
“We will continue to work with all of our players and remind them of their responsibilities in meeting the expected standards, even when they are confronted with difficult circumstances.”
Hopoate reportedly entered the field of play as the pair were fighting and now has 14 days to respond to the breach notice.
NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden said he was satisfied that the ex-Manly player was not involved in the fight.
“The NSWRL treats these types of incidents very seriously and has a zero tolerance policy for behaviour that threatens the safety of participants, officials and spectators,” Trodden said.
“Incidents like these are contrary to the standards of any community sport and do not have a place in our game. Everyone who attends our games, in whatever capacity, should be able to do so with the expectation that they are in a safe and enjoyable environment.”
Hopoate’s son is a part of the Manly system and featured at fullback in the club’s premiership-winning Harold Matthews team last year. However it’s unclear whether he took part in the trial on Saturday.
