Smith praises half backs, Hohaia wary of neighbour Briers (From Warrington Guardian)

Tony Smith praises Warrington Wolves half backs, while Lance Hohaia is wary of neighbour Lee Briers

7:15pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Wolves news

TONY Smith is happy with the form of his half backs going into Saturday’s crunch date with St Helens – and Lance Hohaia is certainly wary of his neighbour Lee Briers .

While Richie Myler scored one try against Hull at the weekend and set up the last one for Brett Hodgson utilising his vision and speed on both occasions, Briers’ kicking game was in good shape and Wolves’ two smallest players also stood tall in defence.

Saints’ pairing of Jonny Lomax and Hohaia were also running hot against Myler and Briers in the play-offs meeting two weeks ago and an intriguing battle between the craftsmen is in store.

To add a touch of spice, the partners are very familiar with their counterparts.

After New Zealander Hohaia arrived in the country earlier this year, he received a warm welcome from Briers after moving in next-door-but-one in the same Rainhill street, while Myler and Lomax have become rivals for the number seven shirt at international level.

Hohaia said: “Lee and his partner were kind to us when we moved into the neighbourhood. He is a good bloke and we have a laugh. “In the past I had played against him only occasionally for New Zealand because we only played Wales every four years or so.

“He is a class player and one of the dangermen we need to keep an eye on. Lee is a very smart footballer who knows the game very well and how to get his team around the park.

“He has been there and done it before so I have no doubt he will play well on the weekend.”

Smith is pleased with the way both his generals worked together against Hull.

“It’s nice to see the half backs combining as they did,” said Smith.

“In some systems you play left and right half backs and they never come together and meet.

“I’m a bit of a traditionalist. I like it when the half backs pass to one another and make each other look good and I thought they were good like that on Saturday.

“They had to devise some ways to break down our opponents.”