League: Hokianga's hard work undone by late injury

Andre Lennox. Photo / File

The Hokianga Pioneers' hopes of a top six placing are in limbo after their round 15 match against the Portland Panthers was called off.

The game was abandoned shortly after Hokianga player Andre Lennox suffered a serious leg injury, which will see him miss the remainder of the season.

He dislocated his knee 10 minutes into the second half after falling awkwardly in a tackle with four tacklers hanging on to him.

Lennox, a 2014 Sword, has been one of the form props in this year's Rugby League Northland Premiership.

While the correct decision was made to call off the match, as players and officials had to wait over 40 minutes for an ambulance, the Pioneers' season is now hanging in the balance while the two clubs decide on the outcome of the game.

Before the match, the Pioneers were one point shy of the top six while the Panthers were placed third.

Under the Premiership format there are now three options available for the teams: The clubs agree to the result at the time of abandonment, the clubs have 14 days to replay the game or they share the points.

If the clubs can't agree on one of the first two options then the last option will come into effect.

For Hokianga it has been a harsh pill to swallow as they had come out firing, were playing perfect football in the first half and were up 30-16 before the incident happened.

The second half looked to be one that was going to follow a completely different script with the Panthers coming back strong scoring three tries.

Had the match gone the Pioneers' way, they would have slipped into sixth place and Portland would have dropped to fifth.

However, if the points are shared it all changes again with the Pioneers remaining in seventh on points differential.