Former NRL player John Hopoate involved in road rage incident on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Former NRL hardman John Hopoate has once again found himself in the spotlight, this time for a road rage incident on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The 50-year-old, known for his controversial career in rugby league, was involved in an altercation in Narraweena with another man.

In a video uploaded to his Instagram account, Hopoate can be seen standing over and threatening a man on the ground. The incident resulted in both parties receiving a $500 infringement notice for offensive behavior after the 38-year-old man involved reported the incident to police.

Despite the backlash, Hopoate maintains that he was not the instigator of the altercation. In a post on social media, he claimed that the other man had punched his mirror and swung at him during the road rage incident.

This is not the first time that Hopoate has made headlines for his behavior both on and off the field. The former Australian heavyweight boxing champion has a history of on-field issues, including being suspended for 12 weeks for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Following the incident, officers visited Hopoate at his home and issued him with a fine, which he has chosen to contest in court. It was also reported that he was allegedly driving on a suspended license at the time of the altercation.

Despite the controversy, Hopoate remains defiant and has even announced his intention to return to the boxing ring. He is set to fight fellow heavyweight David Padovan in June, showing that he is not backing down from a challenge.

Hopoate is scheduled to appear in Manly Local Court on April 23 to address the legal ramifications of the incident. The former NRL star continues to court controversy both on and off the field, proving that he is a polarizing figure in the world of sports.