with the ball over the 2002 NRL season, more than any other player in the competition. In the following year, he scored ten tries for the Eagles before the club disbanded in 2003. 2003-05 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles With the reinstatement of the Sea Eagles for the beginning of the 2003 season, Hopoate was signed to the club where he made his debut ten years earlier. He began the season with several impressive performances but, again, his on field indiscretions were the only headlines he was achieving. His following two seasons were poor, with several on field and off field incidents earning him both fines and suspensions. In a 2005 game against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Hopoate attempted a reckless shoulder charge, making contact to the head of forward Keith Galloway with his elbow. Hopoate was suspended for seventeen weeks by the NRL and the Manly club terminated his contract, effectively ending his career. He made a final statement on the Sea Eagles website thanking his fans and supporters and apologising to his wife Brenda and eight children. Rugby league controversies 2001 on-field indecent assaults During a 2001 game with the North Queensland Cowboys, Hopoate inserted fingers in three players' backsides and anuses. The first incident occurred during the seventh minute of play. The matter was referred to the rugby league judiciary on 28 March. Hopoate was suspended for 12 weeks for what one commissioner described as "disgusting, violent, offensive behaviour". Hopoate claimed, in front of the panel of judges, that he was just trying to give all three players a wedgie with his fingers, denying he had done anything wrong and that he was "a great believer in what happens on the field should stay there". The three victims in the case, Cowboys players Glenn Morrison, Peter Jones and Paul Bowman all disagreed with Hopoate's reasoning. According to Jones, "It wasn't a wedgie. That's when your pants are pulled up your arse. I think I know the difference between a wedgie and someone sticking their finger up my bum", while Bowman said he was "disgusted" and "couldn't believe it". Hopoate was found guilty of 'unsportsmanlike interference'. 2003 breach of contract In the 2003 season Hopoate breached the terms of his playing contract by playing in a fifth-grade rugby union match in the Sydney competition on 9 June under a false name in an attempt to not get caught. After his Manly