His family boast 460 NRL caps. Can Sione Hopoate create his own legacy?

Now is the time for Sione Hopoate to forge “his own legacy”, and burst from the shadow of his famous family.

That was the declaration of Broncos centre Delouise Hoeter, as he braced to line up alongside the powerful winger and convince coach Michael Maguire they are a part of the club’s future.

Hopoate will be one of several club hopefuls who have been on train-and-trial deals under Maguire, and will battle the Burleigh Bears on Saturday. Between his father, John, and brothers Will, Lehi, Albert and Jamil, the Hopoate family boast 460 NRL caps.

The Broncos have history converting trialling players into NRL talent, with Tristan Sailor, Tyson Smoothy and Josh Rogers garnering opportunities. Sailor ultimately signed a three-year deal with Super League powerhouse, St Helens. 

Hopoate’s breakout Queensland Cup campaign last year finished with him leading the competition for post-contact metres (1259 at 62.95 a game).

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And Hoeter declared 26-year-old Hopoate’s strength and development had him on course to become a deputy to incumbent flyers Selwyn Cobbo and Jesse Arthars – with his next test coming against Burleigh winger and one-time Parramatta Eel Lorenzo Mulitalo, the twin brother of Cronulla star Ronaldo.

“He’s his own person. He stands on his own, he knows there’s been a past, but he’s making his own legacy for himself and doing a great job here,” Hoeter said of Hopoate.

“He gets to make a statement on the weekend for himself. He’s gotten stronger, he came pretty high up in the biggest improvers in the club for our testing.