Two NSW representative jerseys in 2024 led to a second appearance in the Australian Schoolboys side for this impressive young Newcastle Knights forward, who is comfortable at either lock or prop.
Hopwood (pictured above, Photo: Bryden Sharp) was part of the NSW City side enjoying a strong 48-18 win over NSW Country in May before he was named in the CABE NSW Men’s State of Origin Under 19s team in June.
His impressive 196cm and 106kg frame started at lock and ran for 53 minutes, 15 hit-ups for 147 metres, four offloads and 26 tackles in the 14-10 win over Queensland at Leichhardt Oval.
July brought the Australian Schoolboy Championships in Coffs Harbour, with Hopwood one of three All Saints College Maitland students named in the NSWCCC (Combined Catholic Colleges) U18s team beating CHS (Combined High Schools) 40-12 in the final.
That earned him his second consecutive green-and-gold schoolboys jumper for games against France Under 19s on the Gold Coast and then PNG Schoolboys in Port Moresby in October.
His NSWRL competitions timetable was almost as hectic – and it led to his debut in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup in Round 23 against the Western Suburbs Magpies, while he was still in high school.
Earlier in the year Hopwood was a standout in UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s) with 10 games, four tries, seven line-break assists, 27 tackle-busts, 18 offloads, and running an average 118 metres per game with 53 post-contact, while making 24 tackles per match.
He also played three games for the Knights’ Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s) team in Round Nine, 10 and 14.
But his SG Ball efforts earned him two awards at the Knights’ Junior Reps Presentation Night in early May – the Andrew Johns Medal for Player of the Year, and the Players’ Player trophy.
There was little surprise then that the Knights re-signed him in September until the end of 2028 with Newcastle’s Director of Football, and former NSW Blues team manager, declaring the young forward’s potential.
“Cody is mature beyond his years and will be an NRL player over time," Parr told newcastleknights.com.au
“He has all the characteristics you want in a player, both on and off the field.”
