Inside John Hopoate Family: Sons and Children With Wife Brenda Hopoate
John Hopoate is a former professional Rugby player and boxer. He has made a family life with his wife and eleven kids.
He played rugby league for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers, and Northern Eagles in the National Rugby League, the Australian Rugby League, the NSW State of Origin squad, and the Tonga national rugby league team. He holds an extraordinary record of being the player who has been suspended for the maximum period in modern times. He faced ten years ban from being involved in any league affiliated with NSWRL, effective from 2018.
Once again, the family rocked the headlines after one of John’s sons, Jamil Hopoate, was jailed after being suspected of receiving $10,000 to transport eight kg of cocaine across Sydney. Hopoate was sentenced on Thursday to a minimum of two years and three months in prison after the judge rejected his defense team’s claims that community service would be a better option.
John Hopoate’s Quick Facts
| Profession | Former Boxer & Rugby Player |
| DOB | 16 January 1974 |
| Birthplace | Nukuʻalofa, Tonga |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Brenda Hopoate |
| Number Of Children | 11 |
Who Is John Hopoate’s Wife, Brenda Hopoate?
The Hopoate family is notorious when it comes to doing various explicit activities. Despite most of them being active in sports, their good image has been overshadowed by their criminal activities.
Being the head of the family, John has raised 11 kids with his wife, Brenda Hopoate. The couple is very supportive of each other, and she, especially Brenda, has stood by her husband’s side, being a faithful companion in every situation of his life. They have been together for almost the past 30 years, and during these years, there haven’t been any moments that could tarnish their relationship.
Like other family members, Brenda doesn’t participate in many activities that may get her in the news. However, she was just accused in Australia of unsafe driving, which also led her to face months of jail time. Her other family members, including her husband, have also met similar legal issues. Recently, Jamil, her second-oldest son, was given a sentence of up to three years in prison for his involvement in narcotics trafficking in Sydney.
Meet John Hopoate’s 11 Children
John and his wife Brenda gave birth to 11 kids, and all the grown kids have established careers in their respective fields, not far from controversies.
He had a tough life as a child, and his family had to migrate to Australia from toga in search of better opportunities. He spent most of his teenage in the western suburbs of Sydney until getting a chance to play in NRL for Manly Sea Eagles. His 13-year career was cut short by 45 missed weeks due to suspension.
John’s Eldest Son, Will Hopoates
His children are also not an exception when it comes to becoming furious and losing their temper for small things like their father did. However, his eldest son, Will, didn’t partake in such activities and has lived his life peacefully and calmly away from such controversies. He followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming the second rugby player in the family and earning a name in the youth leagues.
He made his rugby league debut for Manly as a 16-year-old prodigy in the national Toyota Cup under-20s tournament in 2009. He made his NRL debut the following year, participated in 22 NRL games over the next two seasons, and in 2011, after scoring a try in his State of Origin debut, became the second-youngest player to be named for NSW.
A month after winning a championship with Manly, he famously left the sport to do a two-year mission for the Mormon faith. Unlike his father, he has stayed out of problems throughout his career and continues to play with the Canterbury Bulldogs. He is married and has four adorable children who have been his inspiration throughout his life.
The Second Eldest Son, Jamil Hopoates
The second-eldest son, Jamil, was destined to become another big name in the NRL, but his talent got wasted because of his unethical activities. He was a gifted youngster who was expected to succeed his elder brother Will. However, he was released by Parramatta and Manly for several off-field incidents, including a violent attack that led to a year-long prison sentence. The Brisbane Broncos extended him one more lifeline, and in the opening game of the 2020 season, at the age of 25, he made his long-awaited NRL debut.
Before being released by the Broncos after a terrible campaign for the team, Jamil played 12 NRL games in the second row. He has been accused of several criminal charges, including a case of domestic violence against his girlfriend. Jamil is currently facing prison for allegedly being a member of a trio prosecuted in connection with the massive shipment of cocaine from the UK.
He will serve a minimum of two years and three months in prison, despite protests from his legal team that community service was preferable. He will be released on July 25, 2024, and the maximum sentence he might receive is three years and nine months in prison.
Eldest Daughter, Maile Hopoates
Another famous member of the Hopoate family is John’s 24-year-old daughter Maile. She made headlines in 2019 when she posted a frightening video of a child sitting in an uncontrolled position in the front seat of a car.
Brenda, the mother of Maile, was later fined $500 for refusing to reveal the driver’s identity, which is believed to have failed to properly restrain the toddler in her front seat. She also admitted to the court that she felt ashamed after her daughter Maile shared the footage on social media.
Albert, Pani, Sione, And Lehi Hopoate
Albert Hopoate also followed in the footsteps of his father and brothers. He played rugby union and rugby league at the Australian Schoolboy Representative level, earning praise from his elder brothers as the Hopoate family’s most skilled athlete. Before his promising career was derailed by back-to-back ACL injuries and needing two knee surgeries before age 20, he advanced through the junior ranks at Manly. He participated in five NRL games for the Sea Eagles before being released, and he afterward agreed to a one-year contract with the Canberra Raiders.
He’s presently recovering from a shoulder injury on the sidelines, but the Raiders anticipate seeing him play again soon. John’s 16-year-old daughter, Pani, played junior rugby league, and one time she defeated the boys at the under-12 level by scoring five tries. Although she attempted netball, she is currently a rising star in the youth rugby union.
One of the family’s youngest members, Sione, was a gifted young player for the NSW under-16 team’s centers. He is presently a North Sydney Bears player for the NSW Cup and was a top try scorer for the Bears in the Presidents Cup last year. The younger brother Lehi is a promising fullback for the Sea Eagles’ youth team. He was a member of the Manly squad that defeated Parramatta to win the Harold Matthews Cup for under-16s earlier this month.
John Hopoate’s Net Worth And Ethnic Background
John is originally from Nukualofa, Tonga, but his family migrated to Australia during his teenage, and he is currently recognized as Australian.
Despite being an immigrant in the country, he earned names dominating the country’s rugby league, and after his rugby stint, he also made names in the boxing scene. Therefore, he earned well and raised his 11 kids without financial issues.
His estimated net worth in 2022 is $5 million. He played rugby for the Tonga, Australian, and NSW State of Origin teams and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers, and Northern Eagles in the National Rugby League.
