St Helens utility player Lance Hohaia has announced his
retirement with immediate effect.
The Super League champions say the former New Zealand
international informed them of his decision to not play for them again and that
he is hanging up his boots.
In a statement, the club said: "St Helens announce that
Lance Hohaia has informed us of his retirement from rugby league and will therefore not play for the
club again.
"Lance has been a valued and integral member of the
squad for the last three and a half years and we thank him for his service.
"We wish him and his family well in their life after
rugby league with St Helens.
"St Helens will make no further comment on this
matter."
The 32-year-old Hohaia, who was at full-back in the Kiwis'
2008 World Cup final win over Australia, will best be remembered for being
knocked out by Wigan's Ben Flower in the opening moments of October's Grand
Final.
Hohaia, who won 29 caps for the Kiwis, made 185 appearances
for New Zealand Warriors from 2002 to 2011, when he joined St Helens on a
four-year deal.
He made 78 appearances for Saints in a variety of positions,
including full-back, hooker and half-back, and played an influential role in
the absence of playmaker Luke Walsh in helping them reach the 2014 Grand Final.
His appearance at Old Trafford lasted barely two minutes
after he was twice punched by Flower, who became the first man to be sent off
in a Grand Final, but he was able to collect his winners' medal at full time.
Hohaia's final appearance in Super League was in Saints'
11-8 win at Huddersfield on Easter Monday.
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