William Hopoate - most overrated player ever

[Joely01]

Hope Hoppa is still at the club next year.

 

[Avenger]

When Hayne left it was expected and rightly so that our second most highly paid player would step up and make the fullback position his own. It was a wise choice seeing that Hopoate played most of his junior football at fullback.

That experiment failed so miserably that a journeyman winger/fullback at a fraction of the price took his place (Reece Robinson). He then went back to centre. So what does our rogue CEO do? Pay him about the same as he was grossly on previously. The Hopoate signing has been a monumental f**k up. Even if he "re-signed" for 20% less than the reported $800K you cannot tell me that there were not better alternatives available. James Roberts and Tim Simona immediately come to mind. I'd even give Munster a go before Hopoate. Hopoate is the highest paid centre in the NRL and we were the idiots that made it happen.

 

[hineyrulz]

When Hayne left it was expected and rightly so that our second most highly paid player would step up and make the fullback position his own. It was a wise choice seeing that Hopoate played most of his junior football at fullback.

That experiment failed so miserably that a journeyman winger/fullback at a fraction of the price took his place (Reece Robinson). He then went back to centre. So what does our rogue CEO do? Pay him about the same as he was grossly on previously. The Hopoate signing has been a monumental f**k up. Even if he "re-signed" for 20% less than the reported $800K you cannot tell me that there were not better alternatives available. Jason Roberts and Tim Simona immediately come to mind. I'd even give Munster a go before Hopoate. Hopoate is the highest paid centre in the NRL and we were the idiots that made it happen.

It's all Smith and the NRL's fault.

 

[Chipmunk]

How do we know Hoppa has a signed anything? Cause it was written in the Telegraph?

I was under the impression that Seward had told him he was going to extend him, but they never signed anything, no papers drawn up yet.

Controversial opinion here, be ready, I actually don't mind if he does get re-signed, yes he's not had a season so far, but to be fair, the first half of the season he got shifted around, which can put a player off, he was never the second coming he was being talked up to be, and thus every seems to expect him to be. But he's a good player, albeit overpaid at the moment, but I'm sure that'll be sorted (hopefully).

I won't be upset if he's in the team next year, he's not the only player in the team that's having a bad season, most of the team is.

besides, we should keep him around, then we can blame him every time we lose, that has value, right?

I dare say his manager quoted in multiple reports of "a contract is a contract and agreement is an agreement" signifies Hopoate has signed something.

 

[Gronk]

I dare say his manager quoted in multiple reports of "a contract is a contract and agreement is an agreement" signifies Hopoate has signed something.

It's odd how Smith is quoted that a "contract is a contract", yet when it comes to SBW, Snake, Ferguson, etc etc etc the NRL have come up with reasons why they would not register the contract presented to them. With SBW and Snake it was because those clubs would be over the cap if the contracts were registered.

 

[ash411]

I dare say his manager quoted in multiple reports of "a contract is a contract and agreement is an agreement" signifies Hopoate has signed something.

Sounds like double talk to me, he would have said "we have a signed contract" if they had a signed contract.

Sounds like Seward may have agreed to terms, but didn't put it on paper, hence him saying "agreement".

 

[Joely01]

When Hayne left it was expected and rightly so that our second most highly paid player would step up and make the fullback position his own. It was a wise choice seeing that Hopoate played most of his junior football at fullback.

That experiment failed so miserably that a journeyman winger/fullback at a fraction of the price took his place (Reece Robinson). He then went back to centre. So what does our rogue CEO do? Pay him about the same as he was grossly on previously. The Hopoate signing has been a monumental f**k up. Even if he "re-signed" for 20% less than the reported $800K you cannot tell me that there were not better alternatives available. James Roberts and Tim Simona immediately come to mind. I'd even give Munster a go before Hopoate. Hopoate is the highest paid centre in the NRL and we were the idiots that made it happen.

He was on a contract, of course that means he gets paid the same.
Great players mentioned but none were available at the end of last season.

Let me just side with you for a second about the 800k figure (which i think is far from correct, but anyway) don't forget who signed him up to that deal.
The club has been looking at player contracts this season, and DA (which some on here want him gone) has been identifying and trying to clean up the "over paid" contracts.

I personally think the Hoppa criticism is over the top.

 

[eel01s]

The criticism of Hoppa may be over the top but he definitely deserves criticism.

I understand he had a groin injury early in the season that certainly hampered his speed. Don't know if he is fully over it. I think the best people can say about Hoppa is that he is composed, has great hands, and can set up his winger well. He also works well gaining metres from dummy half (not last night though).

What we are not getting, however, is rock solid defence, speed, or tackle busting ability. I think many people can rightly question his value under the cap. If he was being paid under $400k then I think most fans could cop what he has provided.

Obviously we can't change his current contract, but IF we can renegotiate his new contract to a much fairer value then I think he is worth keeping, seeing as there are not many other options on the market. If his manager wants to play hardball then we should let him go, even if it means we are short in the centres for a year.

 

[Chipmunk]

Sounds like double talk to me, he would have said "we have a signed contract" if they had a signed contract.

Sounds like Seward may have agreed to terms, but didn't put it on paper, hence him saying "agreement".

In a court of law, if the two parties, Hopoate and the Parramatta Eels (via Seward) had a verbal agreement and this agreement is confirmed by Seward in the court, then the verbal agreement is no different than if it was a written agreement.

 

[ash411]

In a court of law, if the two parties, Hopoate and the Parramatta Eels (via Seward) had a verbal agreement and this agreement is confirmed by Seward in the court, then the verbal agreement is no different than if it was a written agreement.

OK, so given that Seward has now been fired (and could possibly be disgruntled), Hoppas management could throw him a few bucks to testify in court that he agreed to a $2M per year extension to his contact, for 8 years?

Yes, Seward would be committing Perjury, sure, but it wouldn't be the first time that's happened in the world, and given that all it takes to prove a verbal contract is for both parties to say the same thing, then we could (in theory) be stuck paying Hoppa $2M a year for the next 8 years?

 

[hineyrulz]

The criticism of Hoppa may be over the top but he definitely deserves criticism.

I understand he had a groin injury early in the season that certainly hampered his speed. Don't know if he is fully over it. I think the best people can say about Hoppa is that he is composed, has great hands, and can set up his winger well. He also works well gaining metres from dummy half (not last night though).

What we are not getting, however, is rock solid defence, speed, or tackle busting ability. I think many people can rightly question his value under the cap. If he was being paid under $400k then I think most fans could cop what he has provided.

Obviously we can't change his current contract, but IF we can renegotiate his new contract to a much fairer value then I think he is worth keeping, seeing as there are not many other options on the market. If his manager wants to play hardball then we should let him go, even if it means we are short in the centres for a year.

pretty fair assessment of everything.

 

[Bigfella]

When Hayne left it was expected and rightly so that our second most highly paid player would step up and make the fullback position his own. It was a wise choice seeing that Hopoate played most of his junior football at fullback.

That experiment failed so miserably that a journeyman winger/fullback at a fraction of the price took his place (Reece Robinson). He then went back to centre. So what does our rogue CEO do? Pay him about the same as he was grossly on previously. The Hopoate signing has been a monumental f**k up. Even if he "re-signed" for 20% less than the reported $800K you cannot tell me that there were not better alternatives available. James Roberts and Tim Simona immediately come to mind. I'd even give Munster a go before Hopoate. Hopoate is the highest paid centre in the NRL and we were the idiots that made it happen.

I think you are being generous saying it was rightly expected he would succeed at fullback.

Plenty of us doubted he had the pace to play there on what he showed in 2014.

The usual suspects called us haters and claimed he would be pressing for origin fullback.

The move to fullback was really done in hope and on the basis that he was being overpaid at centre and could be much better justified in a spine position.

We were also told he would be replaced with a gun centre. That never happened.

In the end we have had to sign a journeyman fullback who no other club in the NRL would play as first choice fullback.

Since Hayne left the following fullback options have signed or resigned elsewhere: barba; Brett Morris; RTS; alex Johnstone; Tom trjbojevic; and it seems likely that Stewart and Slater will resign.

We aren't anywhere near the pace.

We appear to have tried to resign a very average centre for something close to, or more than, all of those elite fullbacks would be on.

All along people on her have said "no one else is on the market" or "you would have to pay overs".

Yet we pay overs for worse players, and miss out on this calibre of player.

And a big whack of the fans on here wil make any excuse in the world for the club remaining mired in this type of incompetence and mediocrity.

 

[Chipmunk]

OK, so given that Seward has now been fired (and could possibly be disgruntled), Hoppas management could throw him a few bucks to testify in court that he agreed to a $2M per year extension to his contact, for 8 years?

Yes, Seward would be committing Perjury, sure, but it wouldn't be the first time that's happened in the world, and given that all it takes to prove a verbal contract is for both parties to say the same thing, then we could (in theory) be stuck paying Hoppa $2M a year for the next 8 years?

Your theory is rather extreme indeed and even though Seward seemed like he was out of his depth I dare say he is an honourable type of guy who's not going to commit perjury to get back at the Eels. Telling the truth would get them back enough as it is! I've seen nothing from Hopoate to suggest that he isn't also a more than honourable man.

I dare say that more people than just Seward, Hoppa and Tyran Smith know at least some details about the original Hoppa/Parra deal. If those 3 confirm the deal the club would have to provide evidence to the contrary.

 

[Avenger]

He was on a contract, of course that means he gets paid the same.

I'm talking about the new contract that was negotiated by Seward which is allegedly the same amount per year as his current deal. IE for Season 2016 onwards.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Take your pick between: Dave Taylor, Tony Williams and Jamal Idris. Much more overrated than Hoppa.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Take your pick between: Dave Taylor, Tony Williams and Jamal Idris. Much more overrated than Hoppa.

True. Because no one besides Seward and Daley rate Hopoate. All three of those mentioned are far better.

 

[Twizzle]

I think Daley played Hoppa on past form not current form. It just seems to be the way some of these guys think, if you can call it thinking.

 

[Avenger]

Hoppa gets paid more than all of the other overrated 'stars.'

 

[Twizzle]

lol, we dont have any stars

 

[Eelementary]

I think you are being generous saying it was rightly expected he would succeed at fullback.

Plenty of us doubted he had the pace to play there on what he showed in 2014.

The usual suspects called us haters and claimed he would be pressing for origin fullback.

The move to fullback was really done in hope and on the basis that he was being overpaid at centre and could be much better justified in a spine position.

We were also told he would be replaced with a gun centre. That never happened.

In the end we have had to sign a journeyman fullback who no other club in the NRL would play as first choice fullback.

Since Hayne left the following fullback options have signed or resigned elsewhere: barba; Brett Morris; RTS; alex Johnstone; Tom trjbojevic; and it seems likely that Stewart and Slater will resign.

We aren't anywhere near the pace.

We appear to have tried to resign a very average centre for something close to, or more than, all of those elite fullbacks would be on.

All along people on her have said "no one else is on the market" or "you would have to pay overs".

Yet we pay overs for worse players, and miss out on this calibre of player.

And a big whack of the fans on here wil make any excuse in the world for the club remaining mired in this type of incompetence and mediocrity.

I think you might be confusing "making excuses " with "trying to think of logical reasons why we are in such a state".

All I have said is that, perhaps, we did approach players and were told no, leaving us to re-sign players we weren't 100% on because we have no choice.

But you're correct - Hoppa doesn't deserve the reported salary he is on on his current form.