Jamil Hopoate's promising rugby league career looks to be in tatters after being jailed for at least a year over a drunken, brutal and unprovoked attack.
The second-eldest son of former NRL bad boy John Hopoate hugged and kissed his father in court on Wednesday after learning of his punishment for the late-night assault.
An emotional John Hopoate left court briefly, jostling with journalists and cameraman outside, as his son prepared to make an urgent bail application, pending an appeal.
But Magistrate Jane Mottley refused his bid, saying he posed an unacceptable risk of failing to appear.
Hopoate pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company following the attack on Alexander Christie and "good Samaritan" Timothy Blackett outside Manly's Ivanhoe hotel in February.
Hopoate started an argument with a security guard after he was ejected from the premises.
His co-offenders John and Luke Akauola arrived and set upon the unsuspecting Mr Christie.
Mr Blackett tried to intervene but was "cast aside like a toy" so the brutal assault could continue.
Then, as Mr Christie tried to rouse himself from the ground, a "grossly intoxicated" Hopoate ran over and made a kick towards him before Luke Akauola delivered the blow that rendered their victim unconscious, Ms Mottley said.
Hopoate was sentenced to a maximum of 18 months for the attack on Mr Christie and a two-year good behaviour bond over the assault on Mr Blackett.
It comes after rugby league manager Tyrone Smith said the NRL would "tear up" Hopoate's new contract if he received a custodial sentence.
Hopoate's older brother and NRL star Will told the court a jail term would "shatter" his family.
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