NRL: Hohaia confident of strong return

Lance Hohaia is expected to play a key role for the Warriors in 2011. Photo / Dean Purcell

Lance Hohaia is confident having just one hitout for the New Zealand Warriors will get him up to speed for new National Rugby League season.

Hohaia and club skipper Simon Mannering are the only frontline players yet to take the field in Warriors' pre-season programme.

Having sat out the draw against Newcastle and the wins over Parramatta and the Burleigh Bears, the pair will be in action for the club's final trial, against Manly at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Saturday.

Coach Ivan Cleary has held back fullback Hohaia and second rower Mannering until now because of their heavy schedule last year.

Both were key members of the Kiwis' victorious end-of-season Four Nations campaign.

Hohaia, 27, said he had a good rest after the final against the Kangaroos in November, joining up with the Warriors early last month.

He was comfortable with fact that the outing against the Sea Eagles would provide his only game time before the Warriors' season-opener against Parramatta at Eden Park a fortnight later.

Experience had taught him what he had to do to make sure his preparation wasn't lacking.

"Both myself and the coach have had a chat and we're pretty confident that one game should be all right," he said.

Apart from Hohaia and Mannering, three other Warriors were part of the Kiwis' Four Nations squad.

Second rower Ben Matulino also played in the final, but winger Manu Vatuvei suffered a tournament-ending arm injury minutes into the opening match, while second rower Lewis Brown wasn't used.

Two years earlier, when the Kiwis won the World Cup, that triumph didn't translate into success for the Warriors, who went on to have a dismal 2009, finishing third bottom after having been among the pre-season title favourites.

"We probably didn't capitalise as much after the World Cup -- most of us kind of went backwards a little bit," Hohaia said.

He believed the players had learnt from that experience, such as ensuring they were refreshed for the new NRL campaign.

"We probably didn't rest ourselves or look after our bodies, or at least tell the coaches how tired we were, because all of us wanted to get back to training and playing as quickly as possible," he said.

"But I think we've learnt from that, like giving everyone a break and the coaches giving me time to recuperate from a heavy workload last year. It's been good for me and I'm excited to play again."

Hohaia is the longest serving Warrior in the present squad.

The 22-test Kiwi's first-grade debut came against North Queensland in April 2002, five days after his 19th birthday, and he has gone on to make total of 163 appearances for the Warriors.

A versatile utility, he has operated in a various positions in the backline as well as at hooker, but in recent times has been used mainly at fullback at both test and club level.

He said he didn't realise he was entering his 10th season of NRL until it was mentioned to him earlier this year.

"I've love my whole time at this club and I'm looking forward to this year as much as any year," he said.

"I'm excited to keep learning and improving. I'm still confident I can get better as a player."

- NZPA