Hopoate, who scored a try and made a line break, was one of Tonga's best in a scratchy 24-22 quarterfinal win in Christchurch on Saturday against a brave Lebanon team led by his NRL rivals Robbie Farah and Mitchell Moses.
The Tongans - who had newly-re-elected Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva travel to the game on their team bus - were mobbed by their fans, who dominated the 8309-strong crowd, after the final whistle with colourful leis draped around players' necks.
