John Hopoate's proposed move into coaching could hit a snag at Rugby League Central.
The NRL badboy, whose rap sheet makes Todd Carney almost look like a choirboy, has been called up to Manly's development ranks as coach of the club's SG Ball (Under-18) side.
But it remains to be seen whether the NRL will rubber stamp Hopoate's appointment given his chequered history.
Hopoate, 41, would need to be registered with the NRL if he is to take up the position on new Sea Eagles head coach Trent Barrett's staff.
"In order to work with a club you must first be registered by the NRL as a club official, John Hopoate is not currently registered as a club official," an NRL spokesman told AAP.
That is where Hopoate's record could count against him.
He holds the inglorious record as the NRL's most suspended player after spending a whopping 45 weeks on the sideline.
The former Manly and Wests Tigers utility was outed from rugby league when he was banned for 17 matches for a sickening tackle on Keith Galloway.
The most infamous of his on-field offences came in 2011 when he was suspended for 12 weeks amid worldwide notoriety for sticking his fingers up opposition players backsides.
Hopoate was found guilty of assault in 2011 over an incident in Kings Cross and hit with a 12-month good behaviour bond and a $1000 fine.
In 2013 he pleaded guilty to intimidating a parking officer who he called "a faggot".
Last year he was the subject of an investigation from the Manly Junior Rugby League over the alleged abuse of a referee in an Under-10s fixture.
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