John Hopoate - Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers

Signing for the newly formed Wests Tigers in 2000 Hopoate brought both talent and experience to his new club, however his fortunes on the field did not change and he could only find the try line a total of five times during the season. He was suspended several times during the season, including being charged with 'contrary conduct' in a late season fixture against Melbourne resulting from over ten separate incidents in that single game.

2001 became the low point of Hopoate's career, he again began the season poorly scoring only one try in several appearances before causing international headlines after a regular season game against the North Queensland Cowboys where Hopoate had been inserting his fingers into the backsides of several players, allegedly in an attempt to unsettle and upset his opposition. After a long NRL judiciary case Hopoate was suspended for twelve weeks and then mutually agreed to part ways with the Tigers club.