Lance Hohaia

Lance Hohaia

Hohaia playing for New Zealand in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Lance Hohaia[1]
Nickname	The Huntly Hurricane[2]
Born	(1983-04-01) 1 April 1983 Hamilton, New Zealand
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	50	12	0	0	48
	Total	235	69	64	1	405
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2002–2011	New Zealand	29	11	8	0	60
2012–2013	Exiles	2	0	0	0	0
As of 20 September 2013
Source: RLP

Lance Hohaia (born 1 April 1983) is a New Zealand rugby league player. In 2008 Hohaia was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team.

Early years

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 French side.^[4]

Playing career

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. Hohaia played for the Warriors from the interchange bench in their 2002 NRL Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters.

A halfback by preference Hohaia had 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 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 contract with Super League club, St Helens from 2012.^[6]

International career

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.

For the 2010 Anzac Test, Hohaia was selected to play for New Zealand at fullback in their loss against Australia.

International Origin

2012

Hohaia was selected to play for the Exiles against England in the International Origin Match by coach Daniel Anderson. He featured in Game 1 as the hooker.

External links

• NZ Warriors Profile

References