League: Four teams competing for second spot

The Portland Panthers will need plenty of big runs like this from Robert Nathan in their game against Northern Wairoa tomorrow if they are to leapfrog the bunch and nab second place.Photo/John Stone

With the top six confirmed for the Rugby League Northland MultiKai Cooker Premiership, the battle now is for second place as the final round robin match takes place - as the top two teams have a break during the first week of play-offs.

While Takahiwai has the minor premiership secured - and has done so for the last few weeks - Portland, Otangarei, Hokianga, and the defending champions Hikurangi could all finish second.

In with the best shot of snatching second place are Hokianga and Otangarei, who face Kerikeri and Muriwhenua in Kerikeri and Kaitaia, even though Hikurangi currently hold the second play-off spot.

Kerikeri and Muriwhenua sit well below Hokianga and Otangarei, and with both teams requiring big wins to help their for and against record, expect to see plenty of tries.

However, Hikurangi could very well hold on to second if they are able to see off Moerewa in Moerewa.

Hikurangi coach Joe Rau has said throughout the season he hopes for his side to be a bit of a dark horse come play-off time. But, a dislocated shoulder two weeks ago has meant Rau's plans might have been re-thought.

Moerewa will have plenty to prove as they have missed out on a play-off spot after last weekend's MultiKai Cooker Premiership games were called off due to the weather.

Moerewa needed to win both of their two final round robin games to hold any chance of making the top six playoffs. But with round 15 cancelled, the Tigers can only roar in frustration as Northern Wairoa secure the sixth and final play-off berth without needing to fight for the spot.

Moerewa player coach Tawio Davis said his teammates were gutted by the decision.

"Disappointed what happened. Dargaville had to play both Hikurangi and Portland [in Dargaville], hard games for them. We had Hora Hora and Hikurangi and we had a good chance of beating them," said Davis.

Rugby League Northland general manager Alex Smits said the situation was unfortunate in terms of washing out the Tigers' play-off hopes but was simply unavoidable after last week's storm combined with a tight finish to the 2014 season.

He said Toll Stadium was booked for three consecutive weeks from the end of the month when the play-offs, semifinals and grand finals are scheduled to take place.

"Cancelling all the football was a difficult decision to make, especially when it ended any chances of making the playoffs.

"However, the health and safety of teams and their travelling supporters was our number one priority," said Smits, referring to the fact that both State Highway 1 and the route to Dargaville had been closed, preventing teams from travelling north from Whangarei or west to the Kaipara region last weekend."

If the fifth-placed Portland is to be in with a shot, they will need to record a massive victory against Northern Wairoa.

Rounding out the weekend's matches is Hora Hora, who host Takahiwai at the earlier kick-off time of 1pm, compared to the other games' kick-offs at 2.30pm.

The play-offs begin on July 27.