sport news NRL star J'maine Hopgood reveals his dad died aged 39 after footy game he ... trends now
He is one of the hardest-working young rising stars of the NRL - and new Parramatta recruit J'maine Hopgood has revealed he's being spurred on by a family tragedy.
The 23-year-old Queenslander has made the switch from Penrith to western Sydney rivals the Eels over the off-season where he is expected to compete with Ryan Matterson for the lock position vacated by Marata Niukore (Warriors).
While the young middle forward is not the biggest name in the NRL, he is a tireless machine on the field who averaged 138 metres a game for the Panthers with a tackle efficiency rate of 94.2 per cent.
It's a work ethic he inherited from his late father, who tragically died when he was just seven years old after playing a game of rugby league he was never meant to lace up the boots for.
J'maine Hopgood of the Panthers is tackled by Luciano Leilua of the Cowboys in 2022. He has now been signed by the Parramatta Eels, where he is expected to start at lock
A young J'maine Hopgood with his father Dale in happier days before his tragic death in 2007 minutes after playing his last game of rugby league
On March 24, 2007 Dale Hopgood set out to take his eldest child Tyrone to a game of rugby league. Secretly, he packed his boots in case the reserves side was short on numbers.
He was called on to play that day, scored a try, and was found dead in his car after suffering a massive heart attack following the match. He was only 39.
His wife Anita remembers that day as clearly as if it was yesterday and told the Sydney Morning Herald her husband had made an extra effort to say goodbye to his kids that morning.
'They were getting in the car and I caught Dale with his little footy bag,' she recalled.
'I said, 'What are you
