Preview of the RLN MultiKai Cooker – Finals Series

Week One – Minor Semi-Finals – Sunday 27th July – Toll Stadium

Week one sees Takahiwai and Hikurangi earning the week off.

1pm:  Hokianga Pioneers v Northern Wairoa Bulls (3^rd v 6^th Place)

This will be an action packed match.  Their previous match was abandoned with the scores at 22 – 16 to the Pioneers while their Round 1 match was a closed fought affair with the Pioneers winning 24 – 22.  Both teams play a similar style of football which would best be described as Power football.  With big teams across the paddock they play on the back of power running and support.

The Pioneers should go into this match as favourites.  They have had a strong finish to the season and been consistently in the Top 4, while the Bulls have never really reached their potential in 2014.  They have shown glimpses of form but have been inconsistent.  However, finals football is a different scenario and the Bulls will test the Pioneers for 80 minutes and if things click on the day can provide a major upset!

3.00pm:  Otangarei Knights v Portland Panthers (4^th v 5^th Place)

This match should be epic.  Both the Panthers and the Knights have consistently been in the Top 6 this year.  The Knights have shown in 2014 that they are true Premiership contenders.  When they focus they can click and when they do, they are unstoppable, playing an expansive wide game of footy on the back of passionate running, combined with Herewini Edmonds’ and Linn Hunapo’s, slick passing game.

The Panthers play a very structured and controlled game.  They have a big mobile pack, led by the friendly giant Michael Gawn.  They have speed and power out wide in the form of Levi McQueen and Kelsin Harding which is fed by a devious Fats (Madisyn) Kaka at Dummy Half.  Portland have struggled throughout the year to lock out tight matches, however they would have gained confidence from last weekends Ville Salase Memorial 17 – 16 win over the Bulls.  In their previous meeting in 2014 the Knights were dominant winning 50 – 22.  They were scheduled to have met in the Rd 15 cancelled round.

Week Two – Major Semi-Finals – Saturday 2nd August – Toll Stadium

Hikurangi Stags v (winner Hokianga v Northern Wairoa) at 1:00pm

Takahiwai Warriors v (winner Otangarei v Portland) at 3:00pm

Week Three – Grand Finals – Saturday 9th August – Toll Stadium

Jennian Homes Juniors 15s Grand Finals at 12:00pm

Jennian Homes Juniors 18s Grand Finals at 1:30pm

Jennian Homes Juniors 15s Grand Finals at 3:00pm