Canberra Raiders star Albert Hopoate is humbled that a competition in Utah named after his family is fast becoming a breeding ground for rugby league talent in North America.
The Hopoate Cup has been introduced by the Utah Rugby League Association as demand for the game grows from a series of local Tonga v Samoa matches inspired by the rise of the Pacific nations in recent years.
With a large Polynesian population, Utah has become a hotbed for rugby league in the US, and Jillaroos coach Brad Donald and his Canadian counterpart Mike Castle travelled to Salt Lake City after the NRL double-header in Las Vegas.