Manly’s fullback stocks have taken a major hit in recent weeks with Tom Trbojevic going down with a hamstring injury before his replacement Tolutau Koula has also been sidelined through injury this week.
Lehi Hopoate is set to be the major beneficiary of this misfortune with the youngster called in to make his NRL debut against Melbourne Storm in Round 12.
"We’ll have a look at what position he plays," Anthony Seibold said after revealing Lehi would become the fifth sibling to play in the NRL or NRLW for the Hopoate family.
"He’s played multiple positions in second grade, Reuben Garrick can play multiple positions, so we’ll look at that and make a decision."
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Who is Lehi Hopoate? Manly Sea Eagles rookie from famous family set to make NRL debut
Lehi is one John Hopoate’s 11 children with four of them having already played first-grade rugby league.
Lehi will now become the latest member of the family to feature in first-grade after Will, Jamil and Albert followed in their father’s footsteps in the NRL, while his daughter, Kalosipani, plays in the NRLW for the Sydney Roosters.
Although despite the obvious ties, Lehi wasn’t always destined to play rugby league.
"We tried to push him to basketball, so he could play different sports, but he wanted to follow rugby league," John Hopoate told The Sydney Morning Herald.
"He always had potential, but he used to do my head in on the field," Hopoate continued while assessing his son’s playing style.
"He is so laid back. He’s still doing it, but it seems to work."
The Beacon Hill Bears product joined Manly’s pathways program at 12-years-old and has steadily progressed through the ranks.
He starred for the Sea Eagles in the Harold Matthews Cup in 2021 which culminated in them winning a premiership, while he also later went on to captain the side.
Since then, he has led the SG Ball side and excelled in the Jersey Flegg Cup before being promoted to the NSW Cup.
Lehi has caught the eye numerous times while running out for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles in reserve grade this season, with Seibold in particular impressed by what he has seen.
"He has been an outstanding performer in reserve grade," the coach said.
"You see a lot of the young outside backs coming into the game at the moment who are full of speed and energy and are high tempo type of players. Lehi is similar to that."
Lehi Hopoate NSW Cup stats
The flyer has featured 11 times for the Blacktown Workers this season, with his time split evenly between centre and fullback.
Although he has started to make the No.1 jersey his own of late after initially starting the season in the centres.
Hopoate has crossed for six tries and laid on six assists to date as he has proved difficult to stop in defence with eight linebreaks, 39 tackle busts and 142 run metres per game.
| Games | 11 |
| Tries | 6 |
| Try Assists | 6 |
| Linebreaks | 8 |
| Tackle Busts | 39 |
| Avg. Run Metres | 142m |
| Tackle Efficiency | 85% |
Lehi Hopoate age and contract
The Sea Eagles tied the 19-year-old down to a new three-year contract late last season.
"He is a terrific young kid," Seibold said of the rookie who has been in and around the main squad all year.
"He did the pre-season with us, and he did such a good job, we took him over to Vegas with us just for experience."
"Lehi is a special player, an exciting talent who has definitely got a bright future," Manly prop Matt Lodge told Wide World of Sports earlier in the campaign.
"He forced his way over to Vegas and jumped a few people there - I'm sure it won't be long until people see him out there in first grade."
