NZ Warriors' rollercoaster coronavirus-plagued campaign took another sudden change of direction - upwards this time - with a dramatic 26-16 win over Brisbane Broncos.
In a performance that wavered from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again, the desperate Auckland-based side trailed 10-0 late in the first half and 16-12 midway through the second, but would not be denied.
After conceding two early tries to Broncos flyer Xavier Coates - the second a 90m intercept - the Warriors finally found the scoreboard in the final seconds before halftime, when Maumalo was presented half an overlap and proved too powerful to stop.
They had squandered several similar opportunities over the opening 40 minutes, but that strike before the break seemed to give the Warriors renewed hope, which they converted into another try to Agnatius Passi soon after the restart.
When Chanel Harris-Tavita converted, they had the lead at 12-10, but lost that advantage under disastrous circumstances, when Peta Hiku, filling in for suspended captain Roger Tavita-Harris at fullback, got nowhere near a high ball under his posts and Herbie Farnworth gathered a horrid bounce to score for Brisbane.
David Fusitu'a seemed to strike back five minutes later, when he was awarded a try in the corner, but when Broncos skipper Alex Glenn exercised his captain's challenge, replays showed Hiku had slipped over and impeded a defender.
Previously, this setback might have broken the spirit of the Warriors, who have had to endure more than any team should since the competition returned from COVID-19 shutdown.
Already challenged by an overwhelming injury toll, they watched coach Stephen Kearney lose his job two weeks ago, while some players have threatened to return home, unless their families are allowed to join them at their New South Wales base.
Owner Mark Robinson has already signalled veterans Blake Green and Gerard Beale aren't wanted next season, and inspirational captain Tuivasa-Sheck had to watch this contest from the sidelines.
But this was a different side to the one that capitulated by 50 points to Melbourne Storm last week.
Ironically, the players that lead the comeback were the same ones seemingly living on borrowed time within the Warriors camp. Maumalo, Passi and Fusitu'a are the three potentially heading home soon to be with their families.
Green had kicked the 40-20 that created Fusitu'a's scoring opportunity and continued to torment the Broncos defence with his boot, forcing a goal-line dropout that lead to Wayde Egan's go-ahead try eight minutes later.
Hiku atoned for past indiscretions, when he found Maumalo with a pinpoint pass that put him over in the corner, just keeping his foot from dragging in touch as he forced the ball.
As the final moments counted down, Brisbane were still within striking distance, until Green created a half-gap and found Isaiah Papali'i charging in support for the icing on the cake.
While the Warriors celebrated, several could be seen consoling their rivals, who have now lost six consecutive games since the competition restart, putting coach Anthony Seibold's job under serious risk.
The result elevates the NZ side to 12th on the table, just two points from the top-eight playoff positions, and they face Gold Coast Titans - one spot removed from the bottom - next Friday.
Warriors 26 (Maumalo 2, Passi, Egan & Papali'i tries; Harris-Tavita 3 goals) Broncos 16 (Coates 2, Farnworth tries; Isaako 2 goals)
