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Lance Hohaia has re-signed with the Warriors until the end of 2009. The 24-year-old was off contract at the end of the season and joins Steve Price, Nathan Fien, Jerome Ropati and Michael Witt in signing with the club again.
"I'm thrilled I'm staying with the Warriors," Hohaia said. "This is where I always wanted to be. This club gave me my start in the NRL and while I've played a lot of games now, there's a lot more I want to achieve."
This season had loomed as an important one for Hohaia, especially considering his sporadic appearances for the Warriors in the past couple of seasons. There had been speculation he might kickstart his career elsewhere but his utility value is highly regarded by coach Ivan Cleary.
"Lance gives us tremendous utility value," Cleary said. "He started out in the halves but in more recent times we've used him at hooker and in the centres. He gives us good service wherever he plays and his versatility is a great strength."
Hohaia's Warriors team-mate, Wairangi Koopu made a successful return from a shoulder injury but couldn't save the Auckland Lions from a 14-4 defeat to Newcastle in the NSW Premier League last night.