Moedogg
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Will Hopoate could rethink Sunday sabbaticals after injury lay-off
Will Hopoate's extended break with a facial fracture could be the tipping point that convinces the Canterbury fullback to relax his stance on playing on Sundays as the Bulldogs prepare to hand a first-grade debut to "future superstar" Brad Abbey amid a backline injury crisis.
Hopoate is likely to be sidelined for at least a month of football after being taken to hospital with a fractured eye socket and concussion after a head clash with Sydney Roosters forward Zane Tetevano at Allianz Stadium last Thursday.
The 24-year-old then stands to miss more action in quick succession with Canterbury scheduled for Sunday games in rounds eight, 11 and 13 as well as in round 18.
The devoted Mormon is yet to tell the club whether he will again sit out on Sundays for religious reasons but there is a suspicion that he may be convinced to relax his position.
Off contract at the end of the season, Hopoate certainly stands to be in a better bargaining position should he change his mind. The former State of Origin three-quarter is on a contract of only $150,000 this season, a salary that takes into account his refusal to play on Sundays, but that figure would lift considerably if he were available for every round. Hopoate donates money from his football career earnings and there is an argument that providing that financial support would be less taxing if he were to be paid his market value.
"It's totally his choice," Canterbury front-rower David Klemmer said on Sunday.
"I don't know what he's doing there. It's his own beliefs and I back him. Even if he does miss a couple of games, which he might because of his injury, we've got plenty of depth."
That depth is being tested further by a shoulder injury suffered by Kerrod Holland against the Roosters but in Abbey, a former New Zealand Warriors rising star, and Fiji international Marcelo Montoya the Bulldogs believe they can more than adequately cover for the absences in their backline. If Abbey makes his NRL debut in round three he would do so against the club he left to join Canterbury, with Des Hasler's winless team flying to Dunedin on Wednesday for a "home" game against the Warriors.
There are big wraps on the 20-year-old Junior Kiwis rep. "Since he's come over he's really grown as a player," Klemmer said. "He came over a skinny, scrawny kid and he's put on some kilos now. He had a big year last year and this pre-season has really lifted him. If he does get his opportunity he'll be one of the future superstars of this game because he's a very skillful kid.
"That what makes him so unique. He can throw a nice cut-out ball and he's got a good kick on him as well. He's an all-round player."
Second-rower Adam Elliott, who scored his first NRL try against the Roosters, has seen plenty of both Abbey and Montoya as a teammate in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW and under-20s competitions respectively.
"He's going to maybe be a bit of an X-factor for us," Elliott said of Abbey.
"He's got a bit of a touchy footy background so he's real quick with his decision making.
"He's a very tough player, too. I was surprised a few tackles that he pulled off last year at the back. He had big fellas coming at him and he just flew out of the line and belted them too. There is not that much of him … he's a big, tall, lanky build … but he does put his body on the line a fair bit."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...cals-after-injury-layoff-20170312-guwdx7.html
Surely Abbey gets a run. It's either now or never....
Will Hopoate's extended break with a facial fracture could be the tipping point that convinces the Canterbury fullback to relax his stance on playing on Sundays as the Bulldogs prepare to hand a first-grade debut to "future superstar" Brad Abbey amid a backline injury crisis.
Hopoate is likely to be sidelined for at least a month of football after being taken to hospital with a fractured eye socket and concussion after a head clash with Sydney Roosters forward Zane Tetevano at Allianz Stadium last Thursday.
The 24-year-old then stands to miss more action in quick succession with Canterbury scheduled for Sunday games in rounds eight, 11 and 13 as well as in round 18.
The devoted Mormon is yet to tell the club whether he will again sit out on Sundays for religious reasons but there is a suspicion that he may be convinced to relax his position.
Off contract at the end of the season, Hopoate certainly stands to be in a better bargaining position should he change his mind. The former State of Origin three-quarter is on a contract of only $150,000 this season, a salary that takes into account his refusal to play on Sundays, but that figure would lift considerably if he were available for every round. Hopoate donates money from his football career earnings and there is an argument that providing that financial support would be less taxing if he were to be paid his market value.
"It's totally his choice," Canterbury front-rower David Klemmer said on Sunday.
"I don't know what he's doing there. It's his own beliefs and I back him. Even if he does miss a couple of games, which he might because of his injury, we've got plenty of depth."
That depth is being tested further by a shoulder injury suffered by Kerrod Holland against the Roosters but in Abbey, a former New Zealand Warriors rising star, and Fiji international Marcelo Montoya the Bulldogs believe they can more than adequately cover for the absences in their backline. If Abbey makes his NRL debut in round three he would do so against the club he left to join Canterbury, with Des Hasler's winless team flying to Dunedin on Wednesday for a "home" game against the Warriors.
There are big wraps on the 20-year-old Junior Kiwis rep. "Since he's come over he's really grown as a player," Klemmer said. "He came over a skinny, scrawny kid and he's put on some kilos now. He had a big year last year and this pre-season has really lifted him. If he does get his opportunity he'll be one of the future superstars of this game because he's a very skillful kid.
"That what makes him so unique. He can throw a nice cut-out ball and he's got a good kick on him as well. He's an all-round player."
Second-rower Adam Elliott, who scored his first NRL try against the Roosters, has seen plenty of both Abbey and Montoya as a teammate in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW and under-20s competitions respectively.
"He's going to maybe be a bit of an X-factor for us," Elliott said of Abbey.
"He's got a bit of a touchy footy background so he's real quick with his decision making.
"He's a very tough player, too. I was surprised a few tackles that he pulled off last year at the back. He had big fellas coming at him and he just flew out of the line and belted them too. There is not that much of him … he's a big, tall, lanky build … but he does put his body on the line a fair bit."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...cals-after-injury-layoff-20170312-guwdx7.html
Surely Abbey gets a run. It's either now or never....
