It's the climax of the year for the Taitokerau Rugby League, a rebel competition based in the Far North.
It started the year with four clubs and a sniff of interest, and ends with eight clubs, three more wanting to join in 2017, and the top two going head-to-head inthe grand final in Kaikohe today.
Taitokerau Rugby League chief executive Hone Harawira said finals day was a double-header.
"We've got the Champions Cup playoff first at 1pm between the Muriwhenua Falcons and the Moerewa Tigers, and then the big one, the Premiership grand final at 2.30pm between the Pawarenga Broncos and the Kaikohe Lions," he said.
Harawira said that he didn't think the Taitokerau Rugby League would even get started this year but, when he was approached by Dave Bristow of the Moerewa Tigers, he knew they had a chance.
"The Tigers were on top of the Northland competition at the time, so when Dave rang me out of the blue, I was really buzzed."
"I must have been mad putting my hand up for this," said Bristow, inaugural chairman of the TRL.
"It didn't do nothing for my health, and it got me in a lot of grief with my club, the Moerewa Tigers, but I knew that if we wanted to rebuild league in the Far North, we had to step up. When I look back over the season, I couldn't be happier with how it's all gone.
"The comp has been bloody awesome. Everybody has given their all and we've had to deal with heaps of challenges along the way, but we're here, and we're looking forward to a big day."
Harawira said the Pawarenga Broncos had gone to another level under new coach Eileen Rankin and were playing a game that made best use of their natural talent.
"And the Kaikohe Lions came roaring out of their cage at the start of the year, then tripped over themselves a couple of times before getting back on track and squeezing out a good win in an excellent preliminary final over the Ngati Kahu Sharks."
"Kids are free and it's only $5 entry for two top games, a programme and a mix and mingle at prizegiving afterwards," Bristow said.
"It'll be the best deal in town - come along and enjoy a day out."
