Olympic sevens star Gayle Broughton has helped steer the Māori women to a late 16-12 victory over their Indigenous rivals in their NRL All Stars clash at Rotorua.
While she could not find the score sheet, Broughton, 26, was named Player of the Match, as her side came from behind to snatch the win with five minutes remaining, through a try to winger Zali Fay.
The home side led 8-6 at halftime, with Fay opening the scoring and opposite winger Jasmin Strange adding another.
When Strange crossed in the corner early in the second half, the Māori seemed to have a stranglehold on the contest, but replays confirmed her foot grazed the touchline, before she planted the ball.
Soon after, Māori lock Destiny Brill was sin-binned and in her absence, prop Keilee Joseph barged over to give the visitors their only lead of the game. Māori centre Amy Turner levelled the scores, before Fay grabbed her second try to regain the lead.
As Brill ran a hard line towards the tryline, she was taken in a high tackle that resulted in a kickable penalty. From the tap, Shannon Mato charged towards the line, captain Zahara Temara provided the offload and Fay expertly found the corner to score.
Broughton retired from sevens, after scoring the gold-medal winning try for the Black Ferns Sevens at the Tokyo Olympics, and moved across the Tasman with her family.
Last year, she switched codes and was named Rugby League Players Association Rookie of the Year for Parramatta Eels in the NRLW.
Māori 16 (Fay 2, Strange & Turner tries) Indigenous 12 (Taylor & Joseph tries; Dibb 2 goals)
