LEAGUE - Last chance for disputed Storm points

The Northern Storm's two points from their victory against the Central Falcons on Saturday are under threat until a disciplinary hearing is completed in Auckland next week.
The Storm played New Zealand under-18 hopeful Cruize Neho in the match, apparently not knowing the player had been suspended by the Whangarei and Districts Rugby League, the previous week.
Storm board member Mike Laiman said it appeared that there had been a collapse in communication between the WDRL and the Storm's coaching staff, leading to the team being in the dark about the directive.
Laimen hoped that the New Zealand Rugby League would be able to sort the matter out without the Storm losing their points from what was an extremely important win for the side.
"We're hoping it doesn't go that far; it seems like it was just a miscommunication and that would be a very harsh penalty if we lost points for that," he said.
A decision was to be made on the matter at a NZRL disciplinary hearing this week but the meeting was put back a week due to the unavailability of a committee member.
It seems likely that the Marist appeal against the original suspension could be heard at the same meeting, after the Whangarei club lodged the appeal with the New Zealand Rugby League this week.
The original suspension came about after three Marist players played for their club against Kaikohe on June 30, rather than play for the Storm that weekend.
The club believes that the players were punished unfairly and weren't given any chance to explain their behaviour at the judiciary hearing.
The Storm's opponents on Sunday, the Wellington Orcas, will be wondering what to expect when they arrive in the storm-damaged north tomorrow ahead of their Bartercard Cup game.
If they expect to find the Northern Storm in some sort of disarray, they could be disappointed.
"The Orcas will be on a bit of a high after beating Auckland last week but we're hoping that playing them at Takahiwai might level things out a bit," coach Phil Marsh said.
"We're hoping that at Takahiwai, they might get to feel the wrath of Northland coming off the sidelines," he joked.
Their normal home ground, Okara Park, isn't available because of weather damage, nor is second-choice Jubilee Park, which is in an even worse state, leaving Takahiwai as the best option.
"The next-best option was a trip to Auckland to play the game but we didn't want to give away our home advantage, so Takahiwai it is," Marsh said.
There are a few changes from last week's side, with Dylan Craig out of contention with a broken leg.
Brandon Cherrington is also out this weekend, after playing the entire game with a fractured wrist last week.
"We are also getting a few players back that we travelled without last week, with Jarden Hohepa, Clinton Tau and Marcus Wikaira all available again," the coach said.
As always, he is optimistic of recruiting a couple of players from Hikurangi Stags, who have the bye in the Whangarei and Districts League.
The match kicks off at Takahiwai at 1.30pm on Sunday.
There are three matches in the WDRL competition this weekend.
Dargaville host Marist, who are desperate to break a two-game losing streak.
Moerewa play Portland, while Kaikohe and Takahiwai clash in what is an important match in the context of the competition.