John Hopoate banned by Wests Tigers over David Trodden altercation [Video]

John Hopoate has been banned from attending all Wests Tigers club functions after confronting NSW Rugby League chief executive David Trodden over the league’s refusal to clear him to play in a local third-grade competition with his son, Will.

Hopoate attended a Tigers 25-year anniversary function on Friday night, organised by former players and attended by some of the club’s biggest names such as premiership winners and coach Benji Marshall, Pat Richards, Chris Heighington, Dene Halatau, as well as Balmain favourite Wayne Pearce.

Hopoate, who spent two seasons at the joint venture, is alleged to have harassed Trodden at the end of the evening.

Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson confirmed the incident.

“It was a really disappointing way to end what was an excellent night,” Richardson told this masthead. “‘Hoppa’ was in Dave’s face about why he had been barred from the NSWRL. I’ll tell …