4 Oct 11 @ 09:00pm by Jon Geddes
SEA Eagles teenage winger sensation Will Hopoate is set to become the highest paid player in the NRL with a deal believed to be worth $1.7 million to join Parramatta when he returns to the game after his two years of missionary work.
Sources have told the Manly Daily that staggering figure is what Hopoate will earn after he agreed to a two-year deal from the cashed-up Eels.
It is serious coin with a lot of third party included elements involved in that, the insider revealed.
And Manly simply could not match that amount.
The figure would put Hopoate ahead of Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston who earns $750,000 a year and Broncos legend Darren Lockyer who reportedly had a total annual salary of $700,000.
Hopoates deal is also worth more than the $1.8 million three-year contract that Greg Inglis has with South Sydney.
Rabbbitohs halfback Chris Sandow recently with the Eels on a deal worth $2 million over four years.
The news that Hopoate wont be going back to the Sea Eagles once he completes his commitments with the Mormon Church in 2014 puts a real dampener on the celebrations following Manlys sensational grand final win over Parramatta. We would have loved to have kept him and we are disappointed, said Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler.
Obviously it was always going to be a very difficult decision for Will to make.
And I have no doubt the decision was based on what was best for Will and his immediate family on the back of what has been an outstanding year for Will with the State of Origin selection and winning a grand final, Hasler said.
