Men's teams share spoils, Indigenous Women victorious in All Stars

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A wrap-up of the action from the NRL All Stars matches played in Hamilton on Sunday 15 February.

WOMEN'S ALL STARS

Maori All Stars (W) 14
Indigenous All Stars (W) 20

The Indigenous All Stars produced a stirring second‑half comeback to defeat the Māori Wahine 20-14 in the NRL Women's All Stars match at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Sunday, overcoming a 14‑point halftime deficit to claim their third consecutive victory in the fixture.

Played in a unique four‑by‑15‑minute quarter format, the match swung dramatically after the main break as the Indigenous side found speed, precision and confidence out wide to overturn Māori dominance from the opening half in front of a crowd of 12,441.

The Māori Wahine were on top early and made the most of their opportunities. After weathering initial pressure, they struck first in the seventh minute when Jillaroos and Roosters prop Rima Butler powered over close to the posts, with Zahara Temara converting. The momentum continued on the left edge where Knights winger Tenika Willison, playing in her home city, crossed twice — first finishing a slick backline movement in the 12th minute before stepping inside her defender for her second just before the second quarter break. Despite a missed conversion from out wide, the Māori took a deserved 14-0 lead into halftime, capitalising on Indigenous errors and discipline lapses.

The complexion of the match changed immediately after the break. Needing first points, the Indigenous All Stars delivered through Titans winger Phoenix‑Raine Hippi, who muscled her way past Shanice Parker after a long pass from Taliah Fuimaono. From there, Kirra Dibb's kicking game and the Indigenous speed on the edges began to stretch the Māori defence.

Caitlin Turnbull narrowed the gap further midway through the third quarter, racing through to take a Dibb kick on the full and score, before New Raiders recruit Krystal Blackwell put the Indigenous side ahead for the first time. Blackwell backed up a line break from Hippi to finish a long‑range movement that shifted the momentum decisively.

With the scores locked in a tense final quarter, it was Jada Taylor who sealed the contest. The Sharks fullback sliced through from 70 metres out, wrong‑footing Gayle Broughton after space was created by Blackwell's long pass, to score a match‑winning try in the 59th minute.

Blackwell was later awarded the Trish Hina Medal as player of the match after a standout performance that included a crucial try, 121 running metres, five tackle breaks and a line break — a key figure in the Indigenous All Stars' remarkable comeback.

Trailing at halftime, the Indigenous All Stars scored four unanswered second‑half tries to snatch victory and once again assert their dominance in this trans‑Tasman showcase.

MATCH DETAILS
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton / Aotearoa
Date: Sun, 15th February. Kickoff: 3:30 PM. Halftime: Maori (W) 14-0. Penalties: Maori (W) 3-2. Referee: Belinda Sharpe. Crowd: 12,441.

Maori (W): Broughton, Takimoana, Baxter, Parker, Willison; Temara, McGregor; Butler, Temara, Hill-Moana, Strange, Baker, Cherrington (C). Int: Cherrington, Quinlan, Butler, Fay, Clarke.
Indigenous (W): Taylor, Blackwell, Chapman, Peters, Hippi; Fuimaono, Dibb; Johnston-Green, Dodd (C), Joseph, Bent, Harden, Chester. Int: Montgomery, Murphy, Banu, Kemp, Byers, Koster, Turnbull.

Maori All Stars (W) (14)
Tries: Tenika Willison 2, Rima Butler
Goals: Zahara Temara 1/3

Indigenous All Stars (W) (20)
Tries: Jada Taylor, Krystal Blackwell, Caitlin Turnbull, Phoenix-Raine Hippi
Goals: Kirra Dibb 2/4

MEN'S ALL STARS

Maori All Stars (M) 16
Indigenous All Stars (M) 16

The Indigenous All Stars and Māori All Stars were unable to be separated after an absorbing and at times frenetic contest at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, finishing locked at 16‑all in front of a crowd of 18,169 on Sunday.

In a match played in four 20‑minute quarters, momentum swung repeatedly before a dramatic final 10 minutes saw missed opportunities, bunker drama and a charged‑down field goal ensure honours were shared. The result means the Māori All Stars retain the Arthur Beetson Trophy after last year's win in Sydney.

The Māori All Stars struck first through back‑rower Jacob Laban in the fourth minute after Charnze Nicoll‑Klokstad sliced through the line and put him into space. Mawene Hiroti converted to give the Māori an early 6-0 lead, but the Indigenous side responded swiftly.

Sharp work out of dummy‑half from Connor Watson and strong support play from Hohepa Puru laid the platform for Blake Steep to crash over in the ninth minute, with Nicho Hynes adding the extras. Braydon Trindall then produced a moment of class, bamboozling the defence with a show‑and‑go before linking with Watson for a second Indigenous try midway through the opening quarter to put his side ahead 12-6.

The Māori steadied through the middle, inspired by skipper James Fisher‑Harris, whose relentless carries and ball‑playing at lock set the tone. That pressure told in the 30th minute when Briton Nikora grubbered ahead for Dallin Watene‑Zelezniak to regather and score, narrowing the margin to 12-10 at halftime. The opening half was fiercely contested, with possession evenly split, though the Indigenous All Stars held a clear edge in tackle breaks.

The Indigenous extended their lead early in the second half when Trindall again took control, deceiving the line before grubbering for Josh Addo‑Carr to ground his fifth All Stars try — the most by any player in the fixture's history. The missed conversion left the score at 16-10, keeping the Māori within striking distance.

That strike came just before the final quarter when hooker Trent Toelau powered through close to the line to score, with Hiroti converting to level the match at 16‑all. From there, the contest tightened into a tense arm‑wrestle marked by heavy collisions, HIA stoppages and mounting fatigue.

Both sides had chances to snatch victory late. Jayden Campbell appeared to have scored a sensational try after regathering a Trindall chip kick, only for the bunker to rule a knock‑on in the contest. The Indigenous All Stars pressed again through Trindall and Nicho Hynes, but a late decision not to go back to the halfback for a field‑goal attempt proved costly. Zach Dockar‑Clay eventually took on the responsibility in the dying seconds, only to see his shot charged down by Brent Woolf as the siren sounded.

James Fisher‑Harris was immense for the Māori All Stars, playing heavy minutes and leading from the front with powerful carries and defensive work, while Trai Fuller and Braydon Trindall were constant threats for the Indigenous side in a match that showcased skill, pride and intensity in equal measure.

After 80 minutes of drama, neither side could land the decisive blow, and the All Stars showcase ended fittingly with a draw — a result that reflected a contest worthy of the occasion.

MATCH DETAILS
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton / Aotearoa
Date: Sun, 15th February. Kickoff: 6:00 PM. Halftime: Indigenous 12-10. Penalties: Indigenous 8-4. Referee: Adam Gee. Crowd: 18,169.

Maori: Kini, Fifita, Mclean, Hiroti, Watene-Zelezniak; Nicoll-Klokstad, Martin; Mooney, Dockar-Clay, Hunt, Nikora, Laban, Fisher-Harris (C). Int: Toelau, Riki, Chan, Waitere, Pompey, Arthars.
Indigenous: Fuller, Addo-Carr, Wighton, Ramien, Khan-Pereira; Trindall, Hynes (C); Lahrs, Watson, Mitchell, Duncan, Patston, Puru. Int: Fogarty, Campbell, Steep, Pascoe, Tohi, Woolf.

Maori All Stars (16)
Tries: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Trent Toelau, Jacob Laban
Goals: Mawene Hiroti 2/3

Indigenous All Stars (16)
Tries: Josh Addo-Carr, Connor Watson, Blake Steep
Goals: Nicho Hynes 2/3

JUDICIARY CHARGES:
Oliver Pascoe (Indigenous All Stars) - Grade 1 Careless High Tackle. Base penalty 10% of match fee. 1st Offence. Early plea 7% of match fee. PLEA: Guilty - early plea. 7% of match fee