“I’m going to take his head off.”
That is the promise Tony Francis made to cousin Lehi Hopoate as the pair prepare to meet on opposite sides of the field when Tonga face Lebanon on Friday to kick off the second week of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
The banter is all part of the family rivalry that has been brewing since childhood when the cousins played together through the junior grades and grew up sharing the same field and attending the same family events.
Now with their international allegiances pulling them to opposite sides, the pair are preparing to turn years of backyard battles and friendly fire into a World Cup showdown.
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“We’ve already had the banter,” Lehi Hopoate told foxsports.com.au.
“When I’m coming out of the back he’s (Tony) saying he’s gonna jam me and take my head off but I’m sure it’s going to be fun.
“The banter’s already started but once that whistle blow I’m sure it’s going to be good.”
Surrounded by footy, the cousins grew up in a family where rugby league was a way of life with former NRL star John Hopoate playing a major role in their development.
The father of Lehi and brother of Tony and Tupou Francis’ mother, John helped guide them through the junior grades en route to the NRL.
“My brother in law John Hoppa took the boys from when they’re three years old playing Under-6s,” Frank Francis, the father of Tony and Tupou told foxsports.com.au.
“We used to drive from Liverpool to Manly every Saturday just so the boys can get around at three years old.
“They’ve all followed their uncles and cousins. They’re a very tight family, and probably one of the best families I’ve ever known
“John was hard on my boys too so the boys had no choice but to train hard and play well otherwise they’ll cop it from John.”
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For Tony, who is currently with the Gold Coast Titans, Friday’s clash is a chance to renew an old rivalry on a much bigger stage.
“I played with them in the younger grades when I was Under-6s, Under-7s and Under-8s. To be able to face him this week, I can’t wait for it,” he told this publication.
“The whole family’s just all footy and rugby league. That’s all we know. I already messaged him (Lehi) saying I’m going to take his head off.”
His younger brother Tupou Francis is just as eager to get out on the field with the pair already exchanging messages with their cousin ahead of tonight’s clash.
“It’s exciting. We can’t wait. Me and my brother are going after him,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“We sent a couple of messages to each other. We can’t wait to you there and go against each other.
“He was a couple years older than me. He was hanging out with the older bro Tony.
“He was always big bro but having seen him throughout the years he’s one of the idols that you look up to so it’s going to be good that I can share the field with him on opposite ends.”
Meanwhile, Lehi Hopoate has fond memories of growing up alongside his cousins before they moved to Queensland around four or five years ago
“We shared our childhood mostly together. Tupou was a bit younger and is still a bit of a baby,” he said.
“All my first cousins and all my dad’s siblings grew up in Sydney and we used to always get together at least one ot twice a month, have a big feed and just share family time and that’s where we grew up.
“In the family, there is still a lot of banter.
“They usually say whoever has the ball, that’s the team they’re going to go for.
“I’m sure my family is going to be going for both teams and they’re not going to be disappointed on who loses.”
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While the family rivalry has been years in the making, the Francis’ brothers decision to represent Lebanon came as a surprise to their father.
This was due to them spending much of their childhood surrounded by their Tongan relatives.
“I never thought they would play for Lebanon,” he said.
“When I got the call from Michael Cheika about the boys coming up to play for Lebanon and I mentioned it to my boys, you should see the joy in their faces and they were so excited to represent Lebanon.
“It broke my heart because my dad is a die-hard NRL supporter and he passed away four years ago now.
“He’d be so proud of him and I’m proud of then because I never thought they were big into Lebanon.”
Making his international debut last week, receiving the nation’s jersey was an emotional moment for Tupou.
“I can’t put it into words,” he added.
“The jersey presentation my dad gave it to me and I started crying.
“I can’t really put it into words and going on to the field, it’s everything I dreamed of and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”
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