SAINTS' stand-off Lance Hohaia may have only played in two minutes of Saturday's Grand Final but he ranks it up there as one of the highlights of his career.

The New Zealander took a sickening punch to the head from Wigan forward Ben Flower which saw the Warriors reduced to 12 men for most of the game.

“Sometimes these things happen in a game, in the heat of the moment people do things they regret and I've done some silly things myself so I don't hold any regrets against Ben, he's probably disappointed with himself.

“I don't remember the incident, people have been telling me what happened.”

“I don't think the nose is broken but I'll have a scan on it in the week. I wanted to go back on myself but the doctor wouldn't let me and obviously my health goes before anything else. I'd have liked to have come back on if it were up to me but my wife and kids, I've got to think about them so it was probably the right decision for me not to go back out.

“I thought we were always definitely in the battle and defended really well and were in the battle. I thought we had everyone playing close to their best rugby right across the pitch. The guys turned up for each other in defence and that's what you've got to do and thankfully the dressing room we've had has pulled us all together. No-one really gave us a chance coming into this match.

“This is right up there with the greatest achievements I've ever had. I've been in a World Cup final winning team and this is my first title and I am really happy about that.

“I think Nathan has really brought a belief back to the club for the guys. For some of the senior guys – Paul Wellens, Wilko – they drive a lot of the culture around the club and Nathan has obviously brought in some good players to really give us that depth of our squad in the forwards. I think his best quality is giving young guys the opportunity and giving them belief.