NRL, NSWRL fight over Hopoate

The NRL and the NSWRL are embroiled in a standoff over the coaching future of controversial rugby league figure John Hopoate.

The NRL on Thursday refused to register Hopoate as a club official with Manly after the 41-year-old was appointed as the Sea Eagles' SG ball coach for 2016.

However the NSWRL says the NRL is going outside its jurisdiction in blocking Hopoate's ascent up the coaching ladder and claim he is free to go ahead as planned.

"NSWRL was surprised to read about the NRL's decision to block John Hopoate from coaching SG Ball with the Sea Eagles," a NSWRL spokesman said on Friday.

"The SG Ball competition falls under the jurisdiction of NSWRL to administer and deliver."

The NSWRL point out that Hopoate has qualified to coach at under-18 level as he has a current level two coaching accreditation, which was issued by the NRL, and a valid Working With Children Check.

The WWCC is registered through the NRL and is the standard applied to all sports in NSW involving children.

"The issue of coaching appointments is one for the Manly club. The only role which NSWRL has to play is in ensuring that its rules are complied with," the NSWRL spokesman continued.

However the NRL does not see the issue the same way. It says that for Hopoate to be registered as an official of the Manly club that it has to be okayed by the governing body.

NRL head of football Todd Greenberg was definitive on the issue when asked on Friday.

"We have made it clear that officials need to be registered by the game, he has asked for that registration and it has been denied," Greenberg said.

Hopoate has continued to coach his side despite the NRL ban after Trent Barrett welcomed him to the club at a media launch earlier this week.

"He has a lot to offer as a coach; not a lot of people probably know the real John Hopoate," Barrett told AAP.

"He is a very generous person, he is a very honest person and I know he does a terrific job with those kids.

"He is more than welcome at our football club."