LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
Manly's Lehi Hopoate has been serving as an apprentice to Tom Trbojevic, filling in as fullback while the star player has been out with a knee injury.
Hopoate has been wearing the No.1 jumper for the past three weeks and is being groomed to eventually take over the fullback position for the Sea Eagles.
Trbojevic, upon his return, is set to potentially move to five-eighth, a strategy reminiscent of Broncos legend Darren Lockyer's transition later in his career.
In the meantime, Hopoate is focused on soaking up as much knowledge as possible from Trbojevic and is content to continue playing on the wing.
"Hopoate wore the No.1 jumper for the past three weeks while Trbojevic was out with a knee injury and is being moulded into the Sea Eagles long-term fullback."
"Trbojevic is being positioned to shift to five-eighth potentially as soon as next year in a move that could allow the superstar to replicate the feats of Broncos legend Darren Lockyer in the final years of his career."
"For now, however, Hopoate is determined to learn as much as he can from his senior teammate and he's happy to line up on the wing in a situation that resembles Warriors fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's formative years alongside Anthony Minichiello at the Roosters."