In a challenging start to their match against Newcastle on Thursday evening, Lehi Hopoate faced a tough situation, fumbling a potential try and sustaining a head injury during the same play. The incident unfolded following a brilliant passage of play by Manly, which saw Tolutau Koula sprint downfield before kicking the ball back towards Hopoate. Unfortunately, as he attempted to place the ball down for a try, Hopoate was unable to secure it, resulting in the Bunker overturning referee Wyatt Raymond’s initial decision.
The setback was compounded when Hopoate collided headfirst with the ground at McDonald Jones Stadium. His teammates quickly gathered around him as he appeared to be in distress. Commentator Cameron Smith remarked, “He will be coming off the field, don’t worry about that,” highlighting the severity of the situation for both Hopoate and Manly’s scoring chances.
As Hopoate was escorted off the field, replays revealed that Newcastle’s Tyson Frizell had also suffered a head knock while tackling a Manly player, leading him to wobble as he attempted to recover and subsequently leave the field. It was an alarming start to the match, as commentator Mat Thompson noted the early “carnage.”
Later reports confirmed that both Hopoate and Frizell would not return to the match due to displaying symptoms consistent with category one head injuries. Following Hopoate’s exit, Koula transitioned to the fullback position, and Ben Trbojevic filled in at centre. This shift in team dynamics proved effective, as Koula opened the scoring for Manly, taking an early lead before Toafofoa Sipley added another try, pushing the score to 12-0.
Overall, the night began with disappointment for Hopoate and his team but quickly shifted into a more positive note with the team’s offensive performance.