The NRL threatened the Sea Eagles with fines and the deduction of competition points after receiving advice from Wayne Walpole, a detective inspector from the NSW Police, regarding Hopoate's ban from Star City Casino. Sidelined: John Hopoate. Credit:James Brickwood However, Sea Eagles officials are frustrated the police, citing confidentiality issues, will not provide any specifics to back up their claims that Hopoate is unfit to mentor teens. It is understood Hopoate believes the NRL's integrity boss, Nick Weeks, has a vendetta against him, while NRL chairman, John Grant, has intimated he could return if a rehabilitation plan is presented, although it is unclear what Hopoate needs to be rehabilitated from. While Hopoate has, at least temporarily, backed away from coaching the under-18s, the club is backing him to the hilt to coach the Bears' under-12s team, which won its competition last year.

Brett Fulton, who oversees Manly's pathways programs and is the secretary of the Beacon Hills Bears, is adamant Hopoate will be the coach when the Bears open their season on April 2. "Definitely, without a doubt," Fulton said. "There has been no evidence of any wrongdoing from John, it's all hearsay. "The John we know is great with kids, he's worked with these kids for a long time and they look up to him," he said. "It's like Nick Weeks and John Grant are channelling Kim Jong-il, it's like it's a dictatorship. "They say he's guilty but can't tell you what of. It's Australia, not North Korea. They can't pin him with anything and that may be frustrating for them as well.

It's like Nick Weeks and John Grant are channelling Kim Jong-il, it's like it's a dictatorship. Manly junior official Brett Fulton "You can't be guilty by association, that's my perspective. Wayne Walpole has said there is open-source material. "Well, when I look on the internet all I can find is a mix of achievements, whether it's playing for Manly or Australia or winning a heavyweight boxing title. "Or you can find some acts he was suspended for, but they were 20 years ago and you can't take much notice of that. "The other thing is that he doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke, he doesn't gamble, he doesn't do drugs," Fulton added.

"If you're guilty by association, a lot of people would be in trouble in rugby league circles." Fulton said Hopoate's players had responded positively to his coaching, pointing to the three premierships they had won during his four years in charge. "It's not only what he's done with rugby league, but they also look up to him with his boxing and other achievements," he said. Loading "I've been with him all along as well and he's good with them.

"He obviously knows the game, it's not something that just comes with having a profile."