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Hohaia moves on from Super League grand final

30th December, 2014
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Lance Hohaia has spoken of his regret and disappointment over his Super League grand final clash with Ben Flower but insists he has put the incident to bed.

Flower, the Wigan and Wales forward, became the first player to be sent off in a Super League decider and was subsequently banned for six months for striking the St Helens half twice on the head in the opening minutes of October’s Old Trafford showpiece.

Former NRL player Hohaia’s grand final contribution was restricted to less than two minutes as he was taken off with concussion and he was later given a one-match ban for provoking his Wigan opponent with illegal use of his forearm but went on to collect a winners’ ring.

“I was disappointed with what occurred in the grand final,” Hohaia told his club’s website wwwsaintsrlfc.com.

“It was a big game and we’d had a tough year. It was a chance for me to step up, lead the team around the pitch and to be the half we needed.

“I was disappointed I didn’t get to play a bigger role but we got the trophy in the end so I was pretty happy about that.

“I spoke to the media afterwards and said once I walked off the field that was the end of the incident for me. I put it to bed then and I don’t see any reason to discuss it further.”

While Flower will miss the first three months of the new season due to his suspension, Hohaia will be available for the start of St Helens’ title defence against Catalan Dragons on February 6 after serving his one-match ban in pre-season.

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The 31-year-old former New Zealand international, who has made 73 appearances for Saints, is set for a new role in his fourth season at the club following the signing of Australian five-eighth Travis Burns from Hull KR.

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