By MARK CASHMAN

There’s a lot more to Northern Suburbs’ impressive backrower Brad Hemopo than meets the eye - just Google him up and you will see that his life on and off the field has been one hell of a ride.

The 26-year-old, one of the Shoremen’s “go to men” over the past two seasons and a vital part of their charge to the 2021 Shute Shield playoffs, has played First XV rugby with Anton Lienert-Brown at Christchurch Boys High, been in the fabled Crusaders system and trialled for the NZ Under 20 side, had two seasons of Shute Shield with Manly and then had a COVID-aborted crack in the MLR with the New England Free Jacks.