NSW Cup 2025

Les Misérables said:
Hopwood has a little too much Chris Houston in him for my liking. Has little to no penetration at the line and seems to wrap and wrestle well but isn't too interested in wacking people.

Yes he's super young but he's also super large and well developed for his age and doesn't exhibit the physicality you'd hope. He looks like he needs at least a couple years to develop that part of his game.
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His motor has always been his outstanding attribute, I'm sure he'll toughen up a bit.
 
Les Misérables said:
Hopwood has a little too much Chris Houston in him for my liking. Has little to no penetration at the line and seems to wrap and wrestle well but isn't too interested in wacking people.

Yes he's super young but he's also super large and well developed for his age and doesn't exhibit the physicality you'd hope. He looks like he needs at least a couple years to develop that part of his game.
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coaches loved the House because a big guy who can do a mountain of work means you can have other guys play shorter minutes and go a lot harder.
Having said that, he has decent impact at Australian Schoolboys level and that's the best level you can expect for an 18 year old.
I did want to see more improvement after his pre-season though.
 
Billy said:
coaches loved the House because a big guy who can do a mountain of work means you can have other guys play shorter minutes and go a lot harder.
Having said that, he has decent impact at Australian Schoolboys level and that's the best level you can expect for an 18 year old.
I did want to see more improvement after his pre-season though.
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I think we need him to develop physically and mentally into a Chief-type prop, which may take a year or two. He has an incredibly high ceiling for a big kid and I have no doubt he will get there. He isn’t playing schoolboys any more.
 
I'm a little underwhelmed by the trajectory. Hopwood is 18/19 was hoping to see more at this stage from a player of his pedigree. Perhaps he needs more time, maybe a year too young for it yet.

McEwen is one of those players who handle it physically from that age.
 
Hopwood is a big minute toiler. Nothing explosive about him. He may develop it but I highly doubt it. His leg speed is just too slow. For all the wrap he may just be an honest prop in grade.
 
I honestly don’t know who I'd have ahead in the pecking order between McEwen and ESL. I think McEwen probably looks to have more power and perhaps ability, but ESL certainly carries the ball strongly and I thought had a few more tough runs in that game
 
I don't think Hopwood will be rushed into first grade anyway. Most of the current quality front rowers didn't debut young unless they are a absolute freak eg Payne Haas.
 
Aidos said:
I honestly don’t know who I'd have ahead in the pecking order between McEwen and ESL. I think McEwen probably looks to have more power and perhaps ability, but ESL certainly carries the ball strongly and I thought had a few more tough runs in that game
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That's a good call.
I think I said earlier that they both had career best games. There wasn't much between them.
 
Maybe we should try and bring back old mate Bradbury. I know he's been hampered by injuries, but i don't think he'd get a run at Sharks, they are stacked for forwards.
 
Les Misérables said:
Yea, I'm coming to the same realisation
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He's 18 and playing his 3rd Cup game with big minutes on a shockingly hot day. I think we should be giving him till end of season, Tyrone and Greacen too before we judge we're they are at. Ball wrapping D and stopping offloads is better than big hits and suspensions like Sua was heading for and that's his best asset right now. Very strong in contact.

I think barn storming runs are left for Tyrone/McEwen and Elijah currently but I think once his body adjust to the game, we'll see him dominate more runs and find the small defender close to the line.
 
Celticman98 said:
I don't think Hopwood will be rushed into first grade anyway. Most of the current quality front rowers didn't debut young unless they are an absolute freak eg Payne Haas.
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Check out how old Carrigan was. And also watch some of his early games, just a pure workhorse, no impact, almost Aaron Woods like.

If you’ve got size, a huge motor and you get around the field well, the leg drive comes with gym time IMO.
 
Hopwood is 19 and turns 20 in May,a couple months time. He'll be 21 by the time next season is in full flight. Not writing him off. Just offering commentary on how other juniors are continuing to improve noticeably week to week or month to month.

At this stage ESL and McEwen are well ahead of him. Thought it would be the other way round
 
Les Misérables said:
Hopwood is 19 and turns 20 in May,a couple months time. He'll be 21 by the time next season is in full flight. Not writing him off. Just offering commentary on how other juniors are continuing to improve noticeably week to week or month to month.

At this stage ESL and McEwen are well ahead of him. Thought it would be the other way round
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Hopwood born 26/5/2006. He's currently 18, soon to turn 19. Could still play SG Ball.
McEwen is a year older. 19/20 - first year of Flegg aged.
ESL is 2 years older. 20/21 - second year of Flegg aged
 
Stats are in for the game.
McEwen was the only guy to get over 50 fantasy points - 53 - he made the second highest number of tackles 33 behind Matt Arthur 36 and ran the 3rd highest forward metres behind ESL and Greacen.
 
I was waiting to see when this happens I was betting halfway through the season, Writing off a really good junior just because he is taking a while all the while he is bloody 18 years old and only 2 games in NSW Cup this year and third overall

I don’t know why people are comparing ESL and McKewn to Hopwood, two are second rowers and one is a prop it seems pretty idiotic to me, put both at prop and they won’t be as good as they are as second rowers.

Biologically speaking he is still growing and still has yet to fill out, he needs about 10-12kgs more muscle and he will be able to have confidence in his running and should be able to do some damage in the middle because one thing against him is he looks really skinny for a NRL prop and he should be able to get that 10-12kgs between now and 21 years old

We all saw what he was able to produce during SOO and for Australia but people are delusional to think he’d kick on so quickly I was always thinking 21-22 years old he should kick on sorta like Lucas did at 22/23 by that point he should have filled out nicely and learned how to use his body to drive.
 
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