The Sea Eagles player hugged and kissed his father John and NRL star brother Will as court officers led him away.
Magistrate Jane Mottley said “this was a random act of violence perpetrated against innocent victims by a drunken assailant”.
The 20-year-old assaulted Alexander Christie and Timothy Blackett outside the Ivanhoe Hotel in Manly on Valentine’s Day this year.
Shamed.... Jamil Hopoate.
Shamed ... Jamil Hopoate. Picture: Ross Schultz Source: News Corp Australia
Ms Mottley said Mr Blackett, who had come to the aid of Hopoate’s first victim, “was cast aside like a toy so the assault on Mr Christie could continue”.
The court heard Hopoate kicked Mr Christie as he tried to get off the ground, with the injuries knocking him unconscious.
Hopoate’s lawyer had asked the court to place the father of one, who was awarded a first grade contract with Manly next season, on a good behaviour bond.
Will Hopoate told the court during a sentencing hearing last week that his younger brother had “shamed” the family, and felt “regret, shame, remorse in a very deep sense”.
The Ivanhoe Hotel
The Ivanhoe Hotel Source: News Limited
Jamil Hopoate playing for Manly’s Harold Matthews side last year.
Jamil Hopoate playing for Manly’s Harold Matthews side last year. Source: News Limited
His two co-accused are awaiting sentencing.
Ms Mottley fixed a total 18-month jail sentence for the assault on Mr Christie and a two-year good behaviour bond for the attack on Mr Blackett, described in court as a “good Samaritan”.
Hopoate intends to appeal the severity of the sentence but has been refused bail ahead of a District Court hearing.
Magistrate Jane Mottley found the appeal has “no real prospect of success” and that he is “an unacceptable risk”.
Some members of the Hopoate family cried as Hopoate was once again taken back into custody.
Earlier, court sheriffs intervened as Hopoate abused a female journalist in the aftermath of the announcement of the jail term.
Originally published as Shamed NRL star jailed over pub bashing.
in typical NRL culture, the need to prove himself a man, by throwing their fists around!
but as a reminder, to who this fog is a son of, Jamil's father john is the bloke made head line news for this incident
