A controversial late penalty has helped the Indigenous women record a 20-18 win over Maori in the Women’s All Stars game at CommBank Stadium.
MATCH CENTRE: Indigenous vs Maori Women’s All Stars live score, stats, video
It was a see-sawing and entertaining contest, with the game level at 18 with two minutes to go.
The Indigenous women were awarded a questionable penalty right in front in the final minute, with Leilani Montgomery adding two points as time expired to give her side the win.
They received the penalty after the Bunker ruled a Maori defender ran into the leg of Montgomery as she attempted a field goal.
It was originally ruled a fair play with the Maori women set to start a new set, but the Indigenous women challenged it with the Bunker providing an explantion as to why it was a penalty.
“While in the act of kicking the field goal, the Maori player runs through the kicking leg of the Indigenous All Stars player which is an illegal act,” the Bunker official said.
The Indigenous women led 10-0 early after tries to Monique Donovan and Titans superstar Jaime Chapman and were well in control
However, the Maori women would then start to warm up.
Crafty dummy-half Chante Temara scored just before the quarter time break.
The Maori women added two more tries in quick succession to take an 16-12 half time lead.
A penalty goal extended the Maori’s lead to six, but the Indigenous All Star would add their third try to trim the margin to two.
Indigenous converted a penalty goal with six minutes left to tie it up to set up the grandstand finish.
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MATCH PREVIEW
The Indigenous women are out to claim back-to-back honours in this year’s All Stars clash after a 26-4 win over the Maori women in 2024.
Kirra Dibb — the reigning Trish Hina Medal winner — will again line up at halfback for the Indigenous side, while speed demon Jaime Chapman will play fullback.
There’s plenty of star power in the forwards too with 2024 Dally M Medal winner Olivia Kernick named in the second row along with Mahalia Murphy. Meanwhile, Quincy Dodd and Keilee Joseph, will play hooker and prop respectively. All four have been named in the Vegas-bound Jillaroos squad.
Shannon Mato captains an impressive Maori women’s squad that boasts the likes of Kennedy Cherrington, Annessa Biddle, Shanice Parker and 2022 Dally M medallist Raecene McGregor.
Since this fixture became Indigenous vs Maori in 2019, neither side has won in consecutive years.
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