J’maine Hopgood: ‘This is pretty surreal’

J’maine Hopgood – a “proud Hervey Bay boy” - is living the dream.

The Parramatta Eels lock is still pinching himself after Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater named him in the extended squad for State of Origin Game III.  

“It’s pretty surreal,” Hopgood said, adding he'd longed to play for the Maroons since he first started out at Hervey Bay Seagulls as a child.

The 24-year-old is no stranger to maroon though, having been part of Queensland Under 18 and Queensland Under 20 sides, but said being in Maroons camp hit different.

“Obviously playing for the Maroons is the pinnacle I think for me and any kid that grew up in Queensland,” Hopgood said.

“Being 19th man in this camp, I'm just looking forward to soaking up the experience and, hopefully down the track, put the jersey on and run out with the boys.

“I’m just so grateful to be here.”

Hopgood, having been in the mix off the back of fine form for the Eels this year, had Slater’s name saved in his phone and was excited to see his number come up ahead of naming the Game III side.

“He called me second game and just said I was close, that I just missed out on being in the squad,” Hopgood said.

“When he rang again, I was like, ‘let’s see how this goes’, and yeah, he just said that I was playing well and wanted me to be part of the squad as 19th man. I was pretty stoked.

“My missus was laying next to me… I showed her the phone and I had it on speaker.

“And then my mum's been in Fiji, so I just sent a message into our family group chat and, yeah, everyone was really happy.”

Hopgood said his phone had been “blowing up with everyone back home” since the news broke that he was in camp.

“Everyone’s wishing me well… everyone’s super proud… I’m always proud of where I come from,” Hopgood said.

Hopgood, who was a North Queensland Cowboys fan as a child, said Origin had always been “a big thing” in his household.

“Sitting down all geared up and watching blokes like Jono (Thurston) and Cam (Smith) and Billy (Slater) run around… those were obviously good parts in my life as the boys were obviously pretty dominant then,” Hopgood said.

“Now to be around those guys is pretty cool.

“Being Indigenous I used to love Jono and Matty Bowen… I always idolised those guys.”

Hopgood, who played nine NRL games for Penrith Panthers across 2021 and 2022 before joining the Eels, said this year had been massive for him.

“Just getting a start and getting an opportunity, has been the best thing for me,” Hopgood said, adding there had been so many people in his corner including his teammates at the Eels, coach Brad Arthur and the rest of the coaching staff.

“It was just opportunity. If someone would have said at the start of the year that I'd be in this position, I would’ve laughed and thought they were joking.

“It's still pretty surreal to be here. I’m excited.”

Moving forward, Hopgood said his biggest goal was to don a Maroons jersey.

“To put that jersey on and run out there with the boys… that’s one of my big goals now,” Hopgood said.

“I’ll just try to keep playing well and hopefully get the chance one day.”

Slater said Hopgood had earned his opportunity to be in camp and if the young lock was needed to play for the Maroons next Wednesday, he would be okay with it.

“He’s a guy that I’ve been watching… I was even watching him last year when I when he was playing NSW Cup for Penrith Panthers and he was really impressive," Slater said.

"What he’s done for Parramatta… Brad Arthur has brought him along and given him the belief by playing him in the middle, starting him in the No.13 jersey.

"He's another guy that’s really earned his opportunity.

"As a young fella growing up in Hervey Bay up in Queensland, he would’ve dreamt of this opportunity to wear this colour and wear these clothes.

"Now he gets the chance to prepare for the next 10 days like a Queensland State of Origin player and I’m sure he’s going to get a lot of experience out of that.

"At the end of the day, if J’maine Hopgood is needed for Queensland next Wednesday night, I’m okay with it."