| Hohaia playing for New Zealand in 2008 | ||||||
| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lance Kovo Hohaia[1] | |||||
| Nickname | The Huntly Hurricane[2] | |||||
| Born | 1 April 1983 Hamilton, New Zealand |
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| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | |||||
| Weight | 86 kg (13 st 8 lb) | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Position | Utility | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2002–2011 | NZ Warriors | 185 | 57 | 64 | 1 | 357 |
| 2012– | St Helens | |||||
| Total | 185 | 57 | 64 | 1 | 357 | |
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2002–2011 | New Zealand | 29 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 60 |
| As of 14 June 2011 | ||||||
| Source: RLP | ||||||
Lance Hohaia (born 1 April 1983) is a New Zealand rugby league player, he currently plays for St Helens RLFC. In 2008 Hohaia was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team.
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Hohaia played his junior football for the Taniwharau Rugby League club and attended Southwell School and St Paul's Collegiate School.[3] Hohaia played for Waikato in 2001 and was also selected for the Northern Districts side that lost to the touring France national rugby league team.[4]
Lance was signed by the New Zealand Warriors and he moved up to Auckland. He made his debut in Round 4 2002 against the North Queensland Cowboys. A halfback by preference Hohaia has great utility value and was often used by the Warriors at dummy half. However this utility value worked against Lance, as he struggled to claim a regular starting spot in the Warriors lineup and was often in and out of the team. However, in 2008 and 2009 he managed to play in nearly every game spending most of his time at fullback. He is one of the top points scorers in the club, while also being one of the most experienced.
His utility value means that he has now played for the club at halfback, five-eighths, fullback, hooker, centre and lock.
When not selected by the first grade side he has played for the Manurewa Marlins, Waicoa Bay Stallions and Auckland Vulcans in the Bartercard Cup and NSWRL Premier League.
In 2007 Hohaia spent most of the season at centre, due to injuries to the outside backs. At the end of the season the Catalans Dragons were rumored to be interested in signing Hohaia to replace the retiring Stacey Jones, however Hohaia ultimately stayed with the Warriors.[5]
In 2008, Hohaia took over the fullback role from the injured Wade McKinnon. Hohaia was promising in McKinnon's absence leaving a dispute whether he should be played at fullback for the 2008 preliminary final.
In 2009, Hohaia was injured in the first game of the Season against the Eels, He made his comeback in round 5 against the Roosters where he played fullback in Wade McKinnon's absence.
In 2010, Hohaia became the first-choice fullback ahead of Wade McKinnon. He played his 150th first grade game for the club.
On 12 April 2011, it was announced that Hohaia had signed a 4 year contact with Super League club, St Helens from 2012.[6]
Hohaia made his international debut for the Kiwis in 2002.
In 2007 he was selected for the Kiwis ill-fated tour of Great Britain. This was the first time in two years that he had been selected for the Kiwis.
In August 2008, Hohaia was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,[7] and in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad.[8] He played at fullback in every one of New Zealand's matches, including their victory in the final.
In 2009 Hohaia was named at fullback in the mid season ANZAC Test against the Kangaroos. He also was selected for the Kiwis 24 man squad for the Four Nations tournament in Europe. He was selected to play fullback against both Tonga and Australia and won the man of the match award in the test vs Australia. In the Four Nations tournament, he appeared at fullback during most of the games and was one of the Kiwis' best players in the tournament. His efforts earnt him a try against Australia and a double against France; one of which was a one hundred metre dash.
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