In a fierce contest, the Māori All Stars narrowly defeated the Indigenous All Stars 10-6, claiming victory in the Men's Rugby League All Stars match. This win followed a thrilling, last-gasp victory by the Indigenous Women's team in their earlier game, setting the stage for a day of intense competition.
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02-25, 2025This was the lowest-scoring men's game since the All Stars concept was established in 2010, highlighting the defensive intensity on display. Tries from Jacob Liddle and Jesse Arthars negated a try from Shaq Mitchell, ultimately deciding the outcome. Arthars was awarded the Preston Campbell Medal as the best player in Saturday's match held in Sydney.
Late in the game, Cronulla playmaker Niwhai Puru had an opportunity to win the match for the Indigenous team, but he lost control of the ball as he attempted to score a try. This crucial error meant that the Māori team held on to their lead, avoiding what would have been their third consecutive loss in this annual pre-season fixture.
The absence of several key players from both sides, including Latrell Mitchell and Jahrome Hughes, undoubtedly contributed to the low-scoring nature of the match. Concurrently, in the first game of the day, Leianne Tufuga's last-minute penalty goal helped the Indigenous team secure a 20-18 victory over the Māori team, adding to the day's drama.
With less than a minute remaining, Tufuga was awarded a penalty directly in front of the posts after being tripped attempting a field goal. Replays showed slight contact from Māori five-eighth Ash Quinlan with Tufuga's planted leg, resulting in the penalty. Referee Matt Noyen awarded the penalty to the Indigenous team, and Tufuga slotted the ball through the posts, sealing the win and sparking celebrations.
Among the crowd of 14,279 at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, the vocal Māori contingent expressed their displeasure with the Indigenous team's celebrations. The Indigenous Women's victory marked the first time a team has won consecutive games since the Women's All Stars concept was established in 2019, demonstrating their growing dominance.
