14 May 2011

Hopoate turns down big bucks for Mormon mission

6:37 am on 14 May 2011

Young Manly rugby league star Will Hopoate has shunned several big-money offers to embark on a two-year Mormon mission from 2012.

Hopoate, one of the hottest properties on the market, is off-contract with the Sea Eagles at the end of this season and Canterbury and Parramatta were the most prominent of a host of NRL clubs chasing his signature.

But the 19-year-old winger/fullback has put his faith first, knocking back one offer worth almost $2 million.

He is the son of former rugby league bad boy John Hopoate, whose run-ins with the judiciary are infamous.