The National Rugby League, and the Manly Sea Eagles
Club, should be hanging their collective heads in abject shame today following
yet more outrageous behaviour by the game’s “bad boy” John Hopoate.

When Hopoate was suspended for
17 weeks in March for one of the worst high tackles I have seen I called on the
NRL to give Hopoate a life ban from the
game. Not only did the NRL fail to do so, as soon as his
suspension ran out, significant forces within the Sea Eagles Club wanted to
re-instate him. They only desisted when the plan was exposed by the
media.

And now the SMH, in a piece
by Roy Masters, has revealed that last weekend Hopoate, while acting as
“water boy” in a Coca Cola Cup Under 13’s Game, was ordered off the
field by the 22-year-old female referee after he abused, and
threatened, a touch judge.

Had the NRL/ARL rubbed Hopoate
out for life in March, this incident could not have occurred. A life ban would
prevent him from playing any role in the game – including water
boy!

Unfortunately for Hopoate, the
touch judge is a lawyer with the RTA, while the referee is the daughter of
Dennis Sparagino, the NSWRL Referees Co-ordinator! He has been reported to the NSWRL, which must surely
bring an end to any involvement in the game by Hopoate. That it has taken yet another embarrassing incident to
do so ought to force a re-think among the game’s
administrators as to the way persistent bad behaviour is
handled.

John Hopoate’s “form” when he was given 17 weeks was appalling – 12
weeks in 2001 for poking the anuses of opponents; 9 weeks for abusing
and threatening an official; abuses a ball boy in March 2005 but evades
suspension; and then the 17 week ban just a week or two later.

The Manly Sea Eagles, or at the very least influential elements in the
club, wanted Hopoate back when his suspension ended a few weeks ago.
Then there was speculation he would take up rugby union – until wiser
heads prevailed in rah rah officialdom. Forget about feeling sorry for
Hopoate the “family man.” The game does not need him, it can no longer
tolerate him.

Anything less than a life time ban or “warning off” will
be totally inadequate. This time, David Gallop and Geoff Carr need to get it
right. And not before time.