League: Hohaia's knees up in new season

Lance Hohaia was running on a dodgy knee and without any confidence for much of season 2004, like a number of Warriors, but he's a new man in 2005.

The hard off-season training, the arrival of inspirational players Steve Price and Ruben Wiki and the knowledge he has lots of competition for the number six jersey has Hohaia revving to go.

He was magazine cover boy after a stellar start in 2002 but then followed injury, lack of form, dropping confidence and the lack of involvement in the game, then being dropped - it all starts to feed on itself.

"A lot of guys play on confidence," he said in the build-up to the Manly game this week. "If they're confident they back themselves and they try things." And he's one, he admits. He's confident.

The right knee feels good after surgery to repair it properly after an earlier operation to correct scar tissue. The left, which was operated on four years ago, is stronger. He's feeling good because they've stood up through the most gruelling pre-season he's had since he joined the Warriors as a development player in 2001, fresh out of school.

"My fitness has improved. We're a different side to what we were a year ago."

The knee thing used to worry him a bit on the field, he said, Not now.

He needs that confidence, he knows. "There are guys who were starters last year who aren't on the field [on Sunday]."

Jerome Ropati was the best No 6 in the Bartercard Cup and looms as a major contender and if Hohaia's form drops it's a good bet he will not get long to reverse it before coach Tony Kemp acts to replace him with Ropati, or Sione Faumuina who is still returning from shoulder surgery, or by moving Nathan Fien from hooker.

Hohaia knows all that. "It's healthy for the team," he says.

He'd rather play halfback anyway. "But while Stacey [Jones] is there I realise that's probably not going to be an option." He's signed to 2007, as is Jones.

Kemp rated Hohaia as the club's stand-out performer from the two trial games against Parramatta and a NZ President's Selection.

"Lance has obviously enjoyed the new systems in place," Kemp said.

Kemp has worked with Hohaia to improve his kicking game and after each team skills practice there are 'extras' - sessions on field kicking then goal-kicking.

Lance Hohaia

Born: April 1, 1983, Hamilton

Junior club: Taniwharau, Huntly

Height: 1.75m

Weight: 87kg

Career: 53 games for the Warriors since debut v NQ in Townsville April 2002

Six tests since debut 2002