KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Warriors utility Lance Hohaia scored a double in a National Rugby League warmup match as he was given the first chance today to fill the void left by injured fullback Wade McKinnon.
The Kiwis international had ample opportunity with the ball as the Warriors overpowered an Auckland Vulcans selection 50-0 in a trial at Henham Park in Auckland.
Hohaia had his first try in the 19th minute and his second immediately after halftime.
The Warriors were 30-0 ahead at the break after scoring five converted tries.
While adding four more touchdowns in the second half, they gave the coaching staff even more pleasure by keeping a clean defensive sheet on a difficult day for playing football.
Five of the nine tries were scored by players yet make their NRL debuts.
Winger Malo Solomona grabbed two of the first three tries while the last three were all scored by players in the Warriors' under-20 squad - Kevin Locke, Elijah Taylor and Constantine Mika.
Once again coach Ivan Cleary rotated players at a great rate, ensuring a huge variety of combinations. He made 11 interchanges in the second half.
He was also thankful there were no injuries following the knee damage suffered by the classy McKinnon a week ago against Newcastle that threatens to rule him out for the season.
The Vodafone Warriors complete their trial programme with a match against Manly on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Friday next week.
NZ Warriors 50 (Malo Solomona 2, Lance Hohaia 2, Nathan Fien, Michael Witt, Kevin Locke, Elijah Taylor, Constantine Mika tries; Michael Witt 7 goals) Auckland Vulcans 0. Halftime: 30-0.
- NZPA
