MANLY coach Des Hasler says teenage fullback William Hopoate will handle representative football with ease.
Hopoate, 18, has become the hottest commodity in the NRL after another man-of-the-match performance against Penrith on Friday night.
Despite the
Bulldogs and
Parramatta trying to get Hopoate away from
Manly, Hasler has no fears about the rookie getting caught in the hype.
A certainty for City Origin selection next month, the kid has been tipped to breeze through the rise in grade.
"City Origin's a great recognition and a nice accolade for him," Hasler said.
"Will's the sort of kid that it won't faze him. The hype won't affect him like it might affect others.
"He won't lose his way with it. He's from a very polite family, a very religious family and they've done a great job.
"He knows how to handle himself."
It might seem premature to talk up Hopoate as a NSW Origin bolter after only nine NRL games, but judging by the maturity and composure he has shown at fullback, centre and wing this season, he would handle it.
Hopoate's form is only driving up his value on the open market as the Sea Eagles fight to retain him.
The Sunday Telegraph understands the Bulldogs have tabled a three-year deal worth $750,000, while Parramatta and St George Illawarra have also entered the race for the rising star's signature.
The Bulldogs see Hopoate filling the right centre role to be vacated by Jamal Idris next season, while Parramatta's backline deficiencies have been glaringly obvious over the opening six rounds.
The other issue for Hasler is where to position Hopoate once champion fullback Brett Stewart overcomes on-going hamstring issues.
Stewart has been named and then ruled out of the past four matches, with Hopoate shining in his absence.
But once Stewart returns - and with Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai in the centres - where does Hopoate best fit into the equation?
Wing appears the most obvious option, but where does that leave David Williams and Michael Robertson?
Hasler confirmed the emergence of Hopoate had allowed the Sea Eagles to adopt an approach-with-caution attitude towards Stewart's injuries.
The Sea Eagles' favourite son has played only eight NRL games since Manly won the grand final in 2008 after being forced to undergo two knee reconstructions.
"A few weeks ago Will Hopoate played centre against the Roosters and was able to come up with some telling factors," Hasler said yesterday. "He also played centre against Newcastle and scored two tries, so [Stewart's injury] has enabled us to continue his development.
"I dare say if push had come to shove, Brett could have played if it was different circumstances like the end of the season.
"He's missed so much football over the last year, so the last thing we want is to magnify that by doing damage to the hamstring."
When The Sunday Telegraph contacted Manly's greatest fullback Graham Eadie for his views on Hopoate, he didn't want to stop talking.
Eadie reasoned Hopoate looked most comfortable as a custodian and reckoned that, given time, he would eventually be mentioned in the same sentence as Melbourne's Billy Slater, Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne and the Dragons' Darius Boyd.
"His confidence is sky high and he just does everything right," Eadie said.
"I watched him under the high ball [against Penrith] and he never took his eyes off it, I thought it just showed how mature he is for his age.
"Fullback probably does look his best spot, but what are you going to do with Brett Stewart when he comes back? You've got to put him there."
