KEY POINTS:
BRISBANE - Fullback Lance Hohaia, one of the protagonists in the penalty try drama that effectively settled the rugby league World Cup final, says he was happy to leave the decision in the video referee's hands.
The incident came with 10 minutes to go in last night's showdown with hot favourites Australia in Brisbane, with the New Zealand leading by just 22-20 and making an attacking raid.
Halfback Nathan Fien kicked into the in-goal, opposition winger Joel Monaghan missed the ball and, as Hohaia attempted to race past, Monaghan held him back.
English video referee Steve Ganson awarded a penalty try, a decision that upset Australian fans who believed that Kangaroo fullback Billy Slater could have beaten Hohaia to the ball.
Hohaia said he was definitely checked unfairly, but after that it was a case of seeing which way Ganson went.
"I chased the kick, I was trying to score the try and I was impeded by one of the Australians," Hohaia said.
"At the end of the day, it was up to whoever the video ref was upstairs to make a decision on what he thought might have happened. I was hoping he was going to give it. It was a crucial time in the game."
Ganson's ruling and the two points from the simple conversion meant the Kangaroos had to score twice with time running out, something that didn't happen as the Kiwis completed a 34-20 boilover.
Ironically, Hohaia was involved in another penalty try award just two months ago when New Zealand Warriors hosted the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League playoffs.
On that occasion, he was the transgressor, being judged to have held pack opposition fullback Anthony Minichiello in a similar scenario.
The Warriors overcame that decision to beat the Roosters to advance to a grand final qualifier against eventual premiers Manly.
Hohaia, 25, made his debut for New Zealand back in 2002, but had never been in a winning side against the Kangaroos before.
"It's probably the most overwhelmed I've felt in my career so far," he said.
"I can tell that these bunch of guys and the memories we've made will stick with me for the rest of my life."
Hohaia now gets a break before rejoining the Warriors in January for pre-season training.
Having performed well as a stand-in fullback this year in the injury-enforced absence of Wade McKinnon at the club level and Brent Webb for the Kiwis, the utility faces a familiar battle next year of nailing down a regular position.
Australian coach Ricky Stuart made no criticism of Ganson for awarding of the penalty try.
"That's not for me to judge," he said.
"I just need to cop the result."
- NZPA
