Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Goals | FG | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 | |
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 26 January 2005 Manly, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg (12 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Fullback, Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | St Augustine's College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father | John Hopoate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | William Hopoate (brother) Jamil Hopoate (brother) Albert Hopoate (brother) Albert Hopoate (uncle) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lehi Hopoate (born 26 January 2005) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or fullback for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL) and for Tonga at international level.
Hopoate is of Tongan descent through his father John Hopoate who was an Australian, Tongan, and New South Wales State of Origin representative. [2] His older brothers William Hopoate, Jamil Hopoate, and Albert Hopoate also played rugby league professionally.
Hopoate attended St Augustine's College at Brookvale and played his junior rugby league for the Beacon Hill Bears, before being signed by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Hopoate rose through the grades at the Manly Sea Eagles, playing for their Harold Matthews Cup and S. G. Ball Cup sides, also appearing for the New South Wales under-16s side in 2021.
Hopoate made his first grade debut at fullback in place of the injured Tom Trbojevic in his side's 26–20 victory over the Melbourne Storm at Brookvale Oval in round 12 of the 2024 NRL season. [3] In round 19, Hopoate scored two tries for Manly in their 44-6 win over Newcastle. [4] He played a total of 14 games for Manly in the 2024 NRL season, mostly on the wing, as they finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. Manly would be eliminated in the second week of the finals by the Sydney Roosters. [5]
Lehi Hopoate's form was such that at the 2024 Manly awards night he won the Ken Arthurson Rising Star Award as the clubs Rookie of the Year. [6] Hopoate was then one of four Manly players named in the Tongan squad (along with Tolu Koula, Haumole Olakau'atu and Taniela Paseka) for the 2024 Pacific Championships. [7] Playing at fullback, Hopoate made his test debut for Tonga on 18 October against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The Kangaroos won the game 18–0. [8]
| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Goals | FG | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 | |
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Sydney's Northern Beaches. They compete in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL). The club debuted in the 1947 New South Wales Rugby Football League season and currently hosts the majority of their home games at Brookvale Oval in Brookvale. They train at the New South Wales Academy of Sport in Narrabeen and their Centre of Excellence in Brookvale. The team colours are maroon and white, and they are commonly known as Manly.
John Hopoate is a former professional rugby league player and boxer who was involved in sport controversies and subsequently convicted for violent crimes. He played rugby league in the Tonga national rugby league team, Australian Rugby League team, NSW State of Origin team and in the National Rugby League (NRL) for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers and the Northern Eagles. He became the "most suspended player of the modern era". In 2018 he was banned for 10 years by the NSWRL from any involvement in its and affiliated rugby league.
Feleti Sosefo Mateo is a former Tonga international rugby league footballer. He played a variety of positions from lock, second-row and five-eighth. Mateo was also selected to represent NSW City Origin and the NRL All Stars. He last played for English club Salford Red Devils of Super League in 2016. Before that, he played for Sydney club the Parramatta Eels between 2004 and 2010. He also played for the New Zealand Warriors between 2011 and 2014, and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2015 and 2016 before moving back to England and finishing his top-level career with Salford. Mateo was renowned for his versatility and extravagant style of play.
Stephen Matai is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League from 2005 to 2016. A New Zealand national representative centre, he played for Australian club the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Matai helped the Sea Eagles win the 2008 and 2011 Premierships. He was also part of the New Zealand national squad that won the nation's maiden title at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Known particularly for his uncompromising defence, in 2020, Matai was voted the National Rugby League's hardest hitter over the past 30 years.
William Hopoate also known by the nickname of "Hoppa", is a retired Tonga international rugby league footballer.
Michael Oldfield is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played as a winger and centre for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.
The 2011 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 62nd in the club's history. Coached by Des Hasler and co-captained by Jamie Lyon and Jason King, they competed in the National Rugby League (NRL) 2011 Telstra Premiership, and finished the regular season in second place. The Sea Eagles then qualified for the NRL grand final, in which they defeated the New Zealand Warriors, claiming the club's eighth first-grade premiership.
Jorge Taufua is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for Bradford Bulls in the Championship. He has played for both Tonga and Samoa at international level.
Daniel Tupou is a professional rugby league footballer who plays on the wing for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Tonga and Australia at international level.
Jake Trbojevic, commonly nicknamed Jurbo, is an Australian professional rugby league player who plays as a lock and prop for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australia at international level.
Thomas Peter Trbojevic, also nicknamed "Tommy Turbo", is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Lachlan Croker is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Addin Fonua-Blake is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both Tonga and New Zealand at international level.
Brad Parker is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a centre for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Taniela Paseka is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Reuben Garrick is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Haumole Olakau'atu is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Albert Hopoate is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a wing, centre and fullback for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Zac Saddler is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Limoux Grizzlies in the Elite One Championship.
Tolutau Koula is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and fullback for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).