League: Hohai dressed to the nine

While his international future might be at halfback - directing and making play out in the wide open spaces - Lance Hohaia can expect to hook into hooker for the Warriors next season. Hohaia, the injured Kiwi with his sights set on slipping into the No 7 jersey made famous by the departed Stacey Jones, has more competition to contend with at his club.

He is not the only player chasing the halfback role and new Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has told Nathan Fien he will start there next season, with Sione Faumuina one position further out at stand-off.

New recruit Grant Rovelli is seen as Fien's back-up at halfback while Jerome Ropati is a long-term option in the No 6 jersey.

"I see Lance as a No 9 and in my eyes he fits the mould of a hooker better," Cleary said. "Most guys like him want the No 7 on their back but it's in his best interests to play there [hooker] and it's in ours as well because he plays his best football there. His experience there last year will put him in good stead."

Last season, Hohaia played most of his 19 games at hooker, although he starred at halfback when Jones was injured for the 28-24 loss to the Sharks in round nine. He quickly adapted to the hooking role with some slick service from dummy half and darting runs around the fringes. He also adds another option with his handy goalkicking.

The 22-year-old will join the rest of the squad when he overcomes the ankle injury he picked up in the final seconds of the Kiwis' 30-22 win over England last weekend.

The Warriors started pre-season training three weeks ago, with Cleary admitting his delight at how well things had gone, even though he is missing seven of his squad through international duty.

They will be given time off once they return from the Tri-Nations series and will rejoin the squad in early January.

It has given Cleary the chance to cast his eye over the next generation of Warriors and he admits he will have to take some risks and blood a number of them because he has inherited a squad that has lost the likes of Jones, Monty Betham, Francis Meli, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Karl Temata and Tevita Latu.

Only three players - Rovelli, second-rower Michael Luck and hooker George Gatis - have been added to the squad.

"Most of the young guys have exceeded my expectations," Cleary admitted. "Whether they can play in the NRL next year, I'm not sure, but I am really excited about the future given what I'm seeing at the moment.

"I'm going to have to take some risks next year but I'm also really committed anyway to giving some of the younger guys opportunities.

"The club has done well in the past when there's some hungry local talent in there."

Cleary still needs to appoint a technical adviser following the resignation of Kevin Campion for family reasons. There was some speculation Kiwis coach Brian McClennan could assume the role but Cleary dismissed that outright.

"Brian's not an option," Cleary said. "I have got a few people who have put their hand up for the position but the role I'm looking for is not an assistant coach because I have already got one [in John Ackland]."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY