Rising Manly star Will Hopoate has put his faith ahead of becoming the highest paid 19-year-old in the NRL by choosing to undertake a Mormon mission, says Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn.

Off contract with Manly at the end of this season, City representative Hopoate was one of the hottest properties on the market, with Canterbury and Parramatta the most prominent of a host of clubs chasing his signature.

Hopoate's father John, a former Manly and Test winger, let slip at Friday's media conference that at least one club had made an offer to his son worth $1.5 million.

"The money that he's walked away from is massive. It would have done him and the family well," John Hopoate said.

"But, in saying that, we're more than happy that he's made this decision because it's such a massive decision for a kid to walk away from that kind of money.

"Some clubs were offering 1.5 (million) for his services. That just goes to show what kind of person this kid is."

Penn admitted Manly's offer had also been substantial.

"We knew how strong his faith was and we knew that we'd put forward a very strong offer," he said.

"He was certainly going to be the highest paid 19-year-old out there.

"We respect his decision."

Hopoate will take leave from the game for two years while he embarks on unspecified work for his religion.

He joins his uncle, Albert Hopoate, and Gold Coast Titans youngster Jordan Rapana in choosing the mission.

Warriors back Krisnan Inu and AFL convert Israel Folau both considered time out of the game before deciding to continue their careers.

Will Hopoate said the big money offers had made him consider his choice carefully.

"It was quite tempting," he said. "I'm human, money talks.

"But I guess I wouldn't be as happy if I stayed."

His emergence as a potential NRL superstar also made the decision harder.

"I'd be lying if I say it didn't, but I've been brought up in the Mormon faith and this is who I am and this is what I want to do," he said.

Manly will turn their attention to ensuring that, when or if Hopoate comes back to rugby league, he returns to the Sea Eagles.

They will even consider paying him a fee to reserve the first and last rights on his services.

"It's important for us to try and keep him in the family so therefore some form of option will be important for us," Penn said.

"Typically with an option, there's financial compensation or the like."

In a week Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler said fullback Brett Stewart's soul still needed "cleansing", the controversial John Hopoate was sure his son's had been already.

"By him choosing what he's doing, putting the Lord before anything else, I think he will get blessings. He'll come back and I think he'll continue to play the way he is," he said.

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