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Speaking for the first time about the pre-match incident at Eden Park, Hopoate told this masthead he would have spoken up if he had his time over.
“I had mixed emotions because I was at fault for what happened to Eli with his first concussion,” Hopoate said.
Eli Katoa was on the end of this sickening hit with Lehi Hopoate before the Tonga-New Zealand clash.Credit: Nine
“We were both going for the high ball, we didn’t see each other and then clashed.
“I knew [he was not well]. I kept checking on him. For him, because he had the red [Tongan] jersey on, he felt like he owed it to the boys [to play].
“I messaged him a few weeks ago to see how he’s going. I’ve sent him a few gifts. I saw Melbourne did a post about him [on Instagram] being back on the field and running.
“[As for the social-media abuse], I didn’t fall into that negativity. I was sweet.”
When pressed if he would have encouraged Katoa to sit the game out if faced with the same predicament, Hopoate said: “Yeah, definitely.”
Whether Katoa should have played was never going to be the responsibility of a teammate who turns 21 on Monday.
The NRL came down hard on two Tongan doctors and two trainers, with penalties ranging from formal warnings to a two-year ban. Some inside the Tongan camp remained frustrated the footage of Katoa and Hopoate colliding was beamed on the TV coverage early in the game, but not relayed to anybody in the coaching box.
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Coach Kristian Woolf was so concerned about Katoa that he remained in Auckland for more than a week so he could visit him in hospital each day.
Hopoate tried to escape the Eden Park drama by heading to Bali for a holiday with friends a few days later, only to arrive at Sydney airport and realise he had left his passport in the washing machine.
The Manly junior played fullback for Tonga, and while he has been touted as Tom Trbojevic’s No.1 successor on the northern beaches, Hopoate said he was more than content playing left wing outside Tongan teammate Tolu Koula.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold checked in on Hopoate at the time of the Katoa clash and was grateful the youngster had such a healthy support network.
“I’ve admired Lehi’s perseverance and resilience since he came into grade,” Seibold said.
”He came in for a six-week train-and-trial [at the end of] 2023, he did such a good job we extended it to a 12-week trial, then we extended that so we could take him to Vegas with the NRL squad.
“He got our player’s player on debut when we beat the Storm at Brookie.
“This year I want him to concentrate on the wing position; he’s setting himself up to have his best year, which is what we’re aspiring to. He’s just a good kid and is so coachable.”
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