SAINTS’ master of utility Lance Hohaia has been impressed with teammates’ ability to cover for absent colleagues, writes Mike Parsons.

The 32-year-old has spent much of his career doing exactly that, currently figuring at full back for Saints having already played in the halves and hooker this year.

But as Keiron Cunningham welcomed back key playmakers in Luke Walsh, Travis Burns and Jon Wilkin this week, Hohaia acknowledged the job done so far this season by the likes of Wilkin in the halves and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook in the centres.

“I think the game is moving towards players being able to play two or three positions,” said the former New Zealand Warriors man.

“I’ve been doing that for the majority of my career so I’m fairly used to doing that but it is an adjustment and it doesn’t just happen with a click of a finger.

“You’ve got to train in those positions and you’ve got to work on the skill set you need for those spots.

“It can be difficult but I think we’ve been handling that relatively well over the last four or five weeks.”

Hohaia, recently honoured as the best player to come through Taniwharou Amateur Rugby League Club in its first 70 years, is in the final season of his four-year deal at Langtree Park.

He feels Saints supporters have not yet seen the best of a player who has represented his country 28 times.

“I think they’ve seen glimpses,” he said.

“If I’m honest they probably haven’t seen the best of me consistently enough for whatever reason.

“It’s definitely been challenging in my time with the club, with the first few years in particular going through a bit of a transition after some great legends of the club had retired prior to my arrival.

“I think we’ve started to get back to where we need to be and I like to think last year I played some good rugby and this year I feel I’m playing ok as well.”

Hohaia, studying a diploma in management as he prepares for life after playing, says all options remain open for next year – either here, New Zealand or America, where his wife hails from.

Retirement is not being ruled out at this stage, while settling his sons, who are approaching aged three and one, into education will be one determining factor.

“It’s a discussion I’ll have with my wife and we’ll make the best decision for our family,” he said.

“Priorities change a bit when you have children and when you get to this stage of my career but I’ve left the door open for the opportunities that are there.”