League: Hohaia looking forward to the open spaces

[image]Fullback Lance Hohaia is looking forward to the extra space he can expect to find when the New Zealand Warriors open their National Rugby League season on Sunday.

The utility will wear the No 1 jersey for the away match against Gold Coast, with regular custodian Wade McKinnon, originally named on the bench, dropping out of the 17 today because of an infection.

It means Hohaia will get an early taste of the more stringent policing of the kick-chase rule which will come into effect this season.

Players pursuing "downtown" kicks will now have to wait behind the play-the-ball until the ball had gone over their heads.

Hohaia gave the thumbs-up to the NRL's new directive, which is aimed at giving fullbacks and wingers more time to mount their counterattack.

"It definitely good for someone like me," he said. "It's better than having someone breathing down your neck as soon as you catch the ball.

"There's still going to be guys who are able to chase and tackle you, but if there's going to be a bit more space than last year, that's good."

Conversely, the Warriors would have to maintain their own defensive concentration when the boot was on the other foot, with Hohaia's opposite number in the Titans being one of the game's most dangerous broken play runners: Preston Campbell.

"Preston's definitely of their key players," he said.

"He's someone we're going to have to keep on top of and we have to make sure we present a good line to him when we do chase."

Hohaia, 26, is the longest-serving player in the Warriors' present squad, having made his debut in 2002 and accumulated 140 appearances.

He has served in a range of backline positions as well as at hooker, and is rapt that coach Ivan Cleary has given him first go at fullback, where he played in the pre-season.

"I've had a couple of good trials under my belt and Ivan is probably looking to change a few things around," he said.

"That's good for me and I'm excited about starting the first game. It's up to me to prove to him that I can stay there."

Fullback is also a position Hohaia has operated in at test level, including at last year's Four Nations, when he was named man-of-match after the 20-20 draw with Australia in London in October.

However, with no back-up hooker on the bench against Gold Coast and the Queensland heat possibly a factor, Hohaia is likely to be called at some stage to relieve starting dummy-half Aaron Heremaia.

In terms of outside expectations, the Warriors head into the new campaign with a vastly different status than 12 months ago.

Last year, they were rated by bookmakers and pundits as one of the title favourites, only to finish third from bottom.

This time around, they haven't been given much chance of making the playoffs.

Against the Titans, they will be without new skipper Simon Mannering and the man Mannering replaced as captain, veteran prop and prolific metre-gainer Steve Price, both out with injury.

However, they have Brent Tate back after the influential centre missed most of last season with a knee reconstruction.

In the halves, they will field new recruits Brett Seymour and James Maloney, who will be up against the potent-looking pairing of Scott Prince and Greg Bird.

Hohaia said being out of the spotlight would hopefully work in the Warriors' favour.

"You could look at it two different ways," he said.

"You could say we're being written off and we're not going to do too well this year, or you could look at it like we're flying under the radar a bit and we can run with the underdog tag. I think that's a good thing for us and we can play without that pressure."