In October 2017, Hopoate joined The Tongan camp for The 2017 rugby league world cup. In the build up to the tournament New Zealand player Adam Blair commented on Jason Taumalolo's defection to Tonga saying "You've got to be a man and own up to what you want to do, If you were man enough, you'd make the phone call and tell them". On 12 October, Hopoate responded to Blair's comments saying "Who the hell is Adam Blair to come and say that?, They don't say anything when we name him in our team and that they were meant to turn up for a camp – they name him and take him out of our team, So what are they complaining about? He wants to come play for his heritage and who the hell is Adam Blair?.I'll bash Adam Blair I don't care.