The bad news keeps coming for the Steamers   in the lead up to their final-round match with Northland in Whangarei tonight although it was tempered with a positive development long-term.

Lock Culum Retallick couldn't escape his judicial charge for stomping at NZRU headquarters last night. He was suspended for two weeks for stomping on Southland prop Chris King last week.

Retallick denied the charge and new video evidence seemed to show his boot had missed King entirely but NZRU judicial officer Bruce Squire found the charge proved.

It comes just a day after star wing Lelia Masaga was ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring strain, with Bay of Plenty needing five points from tonight's game to have any show of making next week's ITM Cup semifinals.

If they lose, there are several retirements looming, with Grant McQuoid definitely bowing out and lock John Moore another considering pulling the pin.

But imported Auckland halfback Taniela Moa, an emergency signing at the start of the season, has indicated he's keen to stay in the Bay for another season.

Now that he's lost a big chunk of weight and his form has been steadily improving, that prospect suddenly has a lot more appeal.

"I'm in talks with the Bay union at the moment and I'd love to stay - hopefully we can get something sorted in the next few weeks," Moa confirmed.
"It was definitely the right move for me, coming down here and getting away from Auckland. I was just a bit stale and I'd been doing the same thing for too long and it showed with my fitness when I first turned up.

"But the Bay style of play really suits me and I'm loving it. This has been a great challenge and my family is happy here too."

The Bay will face a nervous wait, even if they can get maximum points from tonight's game, although in some ways, it's the perfect scenario.
They can reach 42 points, putting them temporarily in second spot, heaping pressure on the likes of Taranaki, Wellington and Waikato to try and catch them.

Either way, it will be a nervous four days, starting with tonight's match which could trip the Bay up altogether.

"It's always tough in Northland and if they get a good start, it's going to be hard for us to get a roll on," Moa said. "If we can repeat the start we had against Southland last week, we should be right. A few weeks ago, we thought we were dead and buried but we've got a great chance now and the boys are really up for it."

Northland have their own reasons to win, even if their top-seven chances are dead and buried. Veteran first-five David Holwell is signing out after a provincial career spanning 16 seasons, since he first played for Northland as a 19-year-old in 1995.

"Obviously it's Dooley's [Holwell's] last game and we want to send him off in the right way but also this will make a big difference to where we finish," Taniwha skipper Jared Payne said. "We could finish as high as eighth if we win but drop to as low as 12th if we don't, so it's a very important game."

All Black Rene Ranger also returns at centre, adding bite to a free-wheeling Northland backline that also stars Payne at the back.
"It's good to have Ranger back because he'll add a bit of spark to our attack, which is what we need; he may be the difference between the sides."

Win or lose, Bay will need to start working on the nucleus of next year's squad as soon as possible with a decent run at the new premier division taking on added importance in the union's centenary year.

For the likes of Moa, that means putting ink to paper and putting in more hard yards over summer.

"I did think of going overseas but the way I'm enjoying my rugby with the Steamers, I think I'll hang around for another season.

"Super 15 would be the next step but I'm just going to keep my head down and keep working hard and hopefully I'll hear from the Chiefs."