League: Epic encounter on cards

Even though a replay of last year's final will take place in the Rugby League Northland Premiership semifinals at Toll Stadium tomorrow, both matches are set to be doozies.

Defending champions, the Hikurangi Stags, will face the Moerewa Tigers, who were crowned the minor premiers, in what should be an epic encounter.

If anything, Hikurangi will go in as favourites after Moerewa have had an extended break after their bye round fell in the final competition round before having last week off due to finishing in the top two.

Hikurangi, on the other hand, have had to fight their way back into form after slumping mid-way through the season. The Stags went from being one of the early pacesetters to having to fight to ensure they would make the play-offs, with a strong reason for the slump being a broken arm to player-coach Joe Rau.

In Hikurangi's favour is their ability to score points as they boast the competition's highest amount of points score with 588 at the end of round robin, followed closely by Moerewa on 578 and Takahiwai on 566.

However, having said that, Hikurangi will be up against it as Moerewa boast by far the competition's best defensive line. Moerewa has only leaked 264 point compared to the Stags 338 across the 16 round robin matches.

Moerewa and Hikurangi have only met once this year, in the opening game of the season, with the Tigers coming out victors in a high scoring affair 40-36.

In the other semifinal at Toll Stadium, second-placed Takahiwai will look to knock over the in-form Hokianga Pioneers.

Last weekend, the Pioneers got lucky as the third-placed side scored in the last minute to beat the City Knights 32-28 in Kaikohe.

With both sides having strong for and against records, this match looks like it will be just as much of an arm wrestle as the Hikurangi and Moerewa clash.

Rugby League Northland general manager Alex Smits believes both semifinals will be of a high quality and urged Northlanders to turn out and support club league.

"I think we've got two great games lined up," Smits said.

"Hokianga and Takahiwai have both been very consistent, Hokianga have been quiet achievers though.

"They'll both be great games if you go by the quality of last weekend."

Smits said the hiring of Toll Stadium was a nice way to share rugby league around Northland, after Kaikohe's Lindvart Park hosted the semifinal qualifiers last weekend.

"It's [running out onto Toll Stadium] just the thrill of running out into a professional environment. And, it's all part of us building the image and brand of rugby league.

"We're doing everything we can to get league people to support league and to capture non-traditional league people to get them to come along to Toll Stadium."

While tomorrow's weather forecast is for rain, easing to showers, Toll Stadium will be the place to be.

Semifinal 1, 1pm

Hokianga Pioneers: Stephen Baggaley, Braiden Burgess, Mike Cuttle, Pouri Hohaia, Billy Zachan, Richard Koroi (c), Verne Wilson, Andre Lennox, Shannon Haare, Maare Katene, Ben Lea'aetala, Jordan Otene, Logan Haddon, Eugene Tauteka, Walter Heremaia, Vai Fotu, Willie Moon. Coach: Phil Marsh; Manager: Rob Marsh.

Takahiwai Warriors: Hori Tuhoro (co-C), Rikki Tarau, Sosaia Tali, Wiremu Te Iringa, Charles Tarau, Kyle Hool, Cole Tarau, Edward Wilson (co-C), Witaiawa Thompson, Para Murray, Manu Tuhoro, Jordan Hool, Sidney Akatea, Nicholas Schuster, Wallace Poutai, Naphtali Pumipi, Michael Hauraki. Coach: Shane Hool; Manager: Juanita Hool. Battlelines drawn for semis at Toll Stadium

Semifinal 2, 3pm

Hikurangi Stags: Innocent Tuimavave, Shelden McKinley, Joachim Edmonds, Tyson Wihongi, Shannon Neho, Joe Rau (co-C), Russell Turner, Steven Rau (co-C), Dean Schreurs, Aaron Nobel, Te Tuhi Tipene, Jamie Harris, David McCullough, Moses Cooper, Wayne Turner, Keiron Wihongi-Henare, Adrion Hemara. Coach: Joe Rau; Manager: Rangipai Turner.

Moerewa Tigers: Mark Aperahama, Simione Ata, Jaydenn Bentley-Hape, Phillip Bristow, Tawio Davis, Wilson Hona, Rikki Mackey, Heriwini McGregor, Tiakina Milne, Tukaha Milne, Te Awherangi Ngawati, Brodee Palmer, Tieimi Ransfield, Davaray Rihari, Marshall Ruka, Chayse Tauranga, Tommy Tauranga, Anaru Thompson, Alex Wiki, Thomas Williams.