Former Manly international John Hopoate has been blocked by the NRL from coaching the Sea Eagles' SG Ball Cup team following the outcry that accompanied his appointment for 2016.

Fairfax Media understands Hopoate was advised by the NRL on Tuesday he wouldn't be allowed to coach the under-18 team. The decision is said to have hit the 41-year-old - who has been painted as rugby league's public enemy No.1 - extremely hard.

Sources close to Hopoate said the one-time winger was "devastated".

"He's being judged for things that happened 14 or 15 years ago," said the source who declined to be named. "In the legal system you can't be imprisoned for the same crime twice but that seems to be what's happening to John. He served his time for incidents he really regrets but he's being punished for them again. It's just not fair."