John Hopoate has revealed son Lehi has been copping some shocking abuse online in the wake of Eli Katoa’s hospitalisation. Katoa was rushed to hospital in Auckland after suffering ‘seizure activity’ on the sideline during Tonga’s game against New Zealand in the Pacific Championships.
The Tongan forward copped three separate head knocks – one of which occurred before the game – and had to have surgery to relieve swelling on his brain caused by a bleed. The pre-match incident occurred when he accidentally collided with Lehi Hopoate while they were both contesting a ball.
John Hopoate says son Lehi (R) has been copping abuse for his collision with Eli Katoa (L). Image: Channel 9/AAP
Hopoate’s shoulder hit Katoa in the head, and Katoa was left reeling on the ground. Tongan officials cleared him to play, but stated afterwards they would never have allowed it had they seen his collision with Hopoate.
Katoa copped two more head knocks during the game, but passed a head injury assessment after the first. He then reported feeling ill while on the sideline after the third knock, and had to be taken to hospital.
Eli Katoa remains in hospital in Auckland. Image: Supplied/Eli Katoa
Lehi Hopoate cops shocking fallout
Speaking on Thursday, Lehi’s father John spoke out about the horrible fallout his son is copping. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, the former Manly and Tigers player said: “Lehi is hurting, 100 per cent he is, he’s feeling for Eli. He’s been copping it from people asking, ‘Why did you take out your teammate?’ and, ‘Why were you trying to take him out with your shoulder?”
John Hopoate, who has worked with the Tongan team in the past, said Lehi thankfully hasn’t been too affected by the abuse. He revealed that Katoa “chased the ball out of nowhere” while Lehi and the backs were catching bombs.
“I’m just lucky Lehi doesn’t read any of that crap,” he added. “I’ve told all my kids they need to have thick skin. That TV footage showed Lehi hitting Eli, but it never showed how both of them were going for the ball.
“Lehi was catching bombs in the warm-up, the backs were doing their own thing, the forwards were doing their own thing, but then Eli chased a bomb out of nowhere. They crashed, but it was completely accidental. I watched the whole thing. I thought Eli was in trouble. But he was cleared by two doctors – not one, but two doctors – and how can you [second-guess] what the doctors do?”
Lehi has been receiving messages of support from fellow NRL players in the wake of the abuse. As for Katoa, he was initially expected to leave hospital this week, but his discharge has reportedly been pushed back to next week.
Eli Katoa (L) and Lehi Hopoate (R) are both receiving messages of support. Image: Getty
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Eli Katoa’s family not blaming anyone
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has refused to fly home to Australia until Katoa is out of hospital. He’s reportedly been visiting Katoa daily, missing the start of NRL pre-season with the Dolphins as a result.
Speaking earlier this week, Katoa’s family said they don’t lay any blame at the feet of Tongan officials who allowed him to play. Radio host Nicholas Pulu translated comments from Katoa’s uncle, saying: “Basically they’re saying it’s not the coaches’ fault, it’s not the doctors, they’re saying that Eli wanted to play and represent his country,.
“They’re not blaming anyone. He wanted to play. That’s the pride of one’s country. That they will do whatever it takes to represent, even if it means putting your body literally on the line and I think that’s the sacrifice that he’s put himself in that unfortunately in this case, he’s ended up injured. They just want him to get better and make a full recovery.”