John Hopoate fined $1500 over assault chargeSTEVE MARCUS/REUTERS John Hopoate was charged after an argument at a supermarket turned physicalFormer NRL player John Hopoate has been fined $A1500 ($NZ1571) after he pleaded guilty to common assault during a brief appearance at a Sydney court. Hopoate was charged in May after a verbal argument with an employee at a Sydney supermarket turned physical, with staff having to intervene, police say. Hopoate, the court heard, is the majority owner of a deli inside the supermarket and works as operations manager. He had gone to find the owner of a neighbouring business to chat about discrepancies in cash received into their shared till. READ MORE:* John Hopoate has been charged with assault* Banned Hopoate takes NRL to court* ARLC rejects Hoppa bidHe pleaded guilty to the one charge at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday afternoon, where it emerged he swung his right arm at the male staffer's chest to stop him walking away and said, "I'm talking to you, ****."

Source: Stuff June 17, 2016 05:15 UTC