Jamil Hopoate could become the greatest nominee in the history of The Frownlow Medal and The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.
The former NRL player already holds the distinction of being the only footballer to have been nominated for The Frownlow Medal and The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame in the same year, and recently earned yet another nomination.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes: the men’s and women’s National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while AFL player Noah Balta is the most recent recipient.
The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame honours former players and players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Julian O’Neill.
In 2021, Hopoate earned a nomination for the medal while still playing for the Brisbane Broncos. After being sacked, he became involved in a separate incident in the same year, making him eligible for the hall of fame as a former player. Technically, this achievement should be impossible.
But not for Hopoate.
That’s why he could become the Frownlow GOAT.
Jamil was arrested recently after allegedly crashing into a parked car on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Reports also indicate that he may have failed a roadside breath test. During a 40-minute rampage, he reportedly stopped vehicles and tried to enter a moving car and was carried hundreds of metres down the road.
In his underwear.
He was arrested, but allegedly initially refused a breath analysis, maybe because he had just been charged with drink driving on a separate occasion. He was eventually charged with driving while suspended, negligent driving, failing to provide details to the owner of damaged property and several testing and learner-driver offences. He is also accused of driving unaccompanied as a learner and failing to display L plates.
But that’s not all.
Most recently, the former backrower was charged with alleged domestic violence against his partner at a Sydney hotel. Police were called to Darling Harbour due to Hopoate’s behaviour and found that the mother of his children had allegedly sustained minor injuries. Police also alleged that Hopoate became aggressive toward responding officers. Media reports indicate that an AVO was taken out against him, and that he had to be sedated before being taken to a police station, where he was later charged with common assault involving domestic violence and hindering or resisting police.
Hopoate was nominated for The Frownlow Medal – 2021, The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame 2021, 2026 x 3, and was inducted into The hall of fame in 2021. He also earned a Wife Beater Tattoo and joined The Frownlow Medal Wife Beaters Club.
As early as 2012, he lost his contract with Parramatta over behavioural issues at a rookie camp. He also caused trouble at Manly and Brisbane, and was later sentenced to three years in prison over his involvement in an attempted cocaine importation, and was released in 2024.
Is he the GOAT?
Image: NuNa
