John Hopoate has stepped up his fight to save his rugby league coaching career by petitioning the NRL Appeals Committee in a bid to allow him to continue in his role as the assistant coach of Tonga's national team.
The NRL said Hopoate was not a "fit and proper character" to coach Manly's SG Ball side and his case against the game's governing body is listed to be mentioned in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
While Hopoate wants the court to decide whether the NRL has jurisdiction over the NSWRL-run under-18 competition, his barrister Julieanne Levick requested on Wednesday to seek leave to appeal the decision made by Nick Weeks - the NRL's integrity unit chief - to reject Hopoate's registration with the NRL.
Hopoate's lack of registration with the NRL means he is not permitted to help coach the Tongan side.
"It's in the interest of justice for the NRL to be properly informed on this matter prior to making any ultimate decision on point and not form a view not having even met the man" said Levick.
It is understood Levick protested Hopoate was not legally represented at the time of Weeks' decision last November and that he was also not advised of his rights of appeal with the NRL Appeals Committee.
It is understood the NRL decision was influenced by a letter written by Detective Inspector Wayne Walpole of the NSW police force's Organised Crime Squad.
Hopoate is ready to submit a number of endorsements from the community that he has plenty to offer as a coach. It is understood players he has mentored during the past 21 years and their parents, Tonga's national coach Kristian Woolf and representatives from various charities and even church elders were prepared to vouch for him.
Woolf told Fairfax Media last weekend that Hopoate had been an asset for the team and they wanted him to be a member of the coaching staff for the upcoming international against Samoa. "I want him to be involved because he's been outstanding with what he's done so far for us," he said.