Indigenous star Jada Taylor came up with an early contender for try of the year to seal her side's 20-14 win in Hamilton, some four-and-a-half months from the start of the NRLW season.
With two minutes to play, Taylor monstered Payton Takimoana on the last tackle to end what appeared the Maori side's final chance to chase points in the red zone.
Shifted to the left wing from fullback, Taylor then grabbed Krystal Blackwell's cutout pass and burst past both Shanice Parker and Gayle Broughton on a stunning 75-metre tear that sealed victory.
The Indigenous side had struggled for attacking fluency running into the breeze during the first half and was twice caught napping on the fifth tackle at close range.
After holding Keilee Joseph up over the line early on, Zahara Temara was key to the Maori side's 14-0 lead, shifting left on the last play twice for tries to winger Tenika Willison.
But the Indigenous team came out of half-time with renewed intensity and Phoenix-Raine Hippi burst through Parker on the left for her side's first try.
In the set after points, Kirra Dibb hoisted a pinpoint crossfield kick to winger Caitlin Turnbull, who glided over on the right following a break from Blackwell.
Shifted to fullback, Blackwell gave the Indigenous side their first lead with 15 minutes to play, grabbing an inside ball from Hippi to ice a 60-metre try.
The Indigenous side snared their win even without talismanic fullback Tamika Upton, who endured an injurious end to 2025 and missed a second consecutive All Stars match.
Shannon Mato and Olivia Kernick were other big names absent on Sunday.
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