League: Bizarre twist puts Stallions in final

REMARKABLE: The Stallions have qualified for the Pirtek NZRL National Premiership grand final tonight. Pictured is Stallions player Daley Rata-Makene (with ball). PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 280914SP15

The Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions will have to put their prize giving on hold. They have a grand final to play.

In a bizarre twist, the Stallions have qualified for the Pirtek NZRL National Premiership grand final against the Canterbury Bulls tonight in Auckland.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty/Coastline team finished fourth in the national competition regular season with a three-win, three-loss record.

But powerhouse sides Counties Manukau and Akarana (Auckland) both had competition points deducted this week for fielding ineligible players during the season. It means the Stallions move into second place on the ladder.

The announcement was made public yesterday afternoon that the final would be played between the Bulls and the Stallions, following the investigations into eligibility breeches.

Stallions assistant coach Moehewa Armstrong said he was called on Thursday night with news they would be playing in the grand final, and it was confirmed yesterday at noon.

"We were getting ready for our prize giving this weekend and I got a phone call [on Thursday] night. The general manager Sash Stosic said 'get the boys together, we have a final to go to'," he said.

"It is surreal at the moment but we have been given an opportunity and we will go up there and smash them."

He said luckily the players were all available because they had already planned to get together for their prize giving today.

"A couple of days ago we were planning for a prize giving and now we are planning to win a national competition."

Armstrong said they broke the news to the players on Thursday night during a training session.

"We have been training for a Rarotonga trip in four weeks. We had a training called for Thursday night, as we wanted to stay in training for the Raro trip. When we told the boys they were pretty excited."

It marks an amazing scenario for the Stallions, who have a chance to win their first national title in the current competition. It will be a tough challenge though.

They will go up against a strong Canterbury side who won their second round encounter against the Stallions 38-20 in Huntly in August.

"They are a very strong side. they have some good players and a good forward pack. But the last time we played them I thought we gave th game away, just through penalties and mistakes," he said.

"We have come a long way since that ... and we are quite confident that we are going to do the business [tonight]."

It has been three weeks since the Stallions played their last match in the national premiership, beating the Central Vipers in Rotorua. The Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions boast a strong group of players this year who play their club league in the Bay of Plenty District Rugby League competition.

The grand final will also act as a curtain raiser to the Junior Kiwis versus Junior Kangaroos match at Mount Smart Stadium.

The Pirtek NZRL National Premiership grand final will be shown live on SKY Sports at 5pm tonight.

Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions v Canterbury Bulls, 5pm tonight, Mount Smart Stadium

Stallions: 1-Caleb Heke, 2-Isaac Robinson, 3-John Koko, 4-Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano, 5-Mounga Molisi, 6-Johnson Peri, 7-Hayden Karena, 8-Hone Love-Henry, 9-Raureti Grace, 10-Lionel Skipwith, 11-Marrin Haggie, 12-Mosese Mafi, 13-Terry Kopua, 14-Daley Rata-Makene, 15-Riki Collier, 16-Shaquille Jakeman, 17-Tupara Tupara, 18-Jason Whareaitu.

Bulls: 1-Ken Tofilau, 2-Vinnie Paul, 3-Erwin Sauni, 4-Bruce Havea, 5-Cyrus Timo-Latu, 6-Toi Sepuloni, 7-Izic Placid, 8-JJ Smith,9-Manu Weepu, 10-Chris Bamford, 11-James Baxendale, 12-Corey Lawrie, 13-Agaese Fiso, 14-Alani Kakoi, 15-Dan Moevao, 16-Kyle Leka, 17-Paradise Mann, 18-Paul Sauni.