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A late charge by the Māori was not quite enough to get past the Indigenous All Stars who held on for the win, 28-24, in Rotorua on Saturday night.
A converted try by Preston Riki with two minutes left on the clock threw the game wide open, closing a 10-point fourth-quarter Indigenous lead to just four points.
Goosebumps after the Māori haka! #NRLAllStars pic.twitter.com/qs26SX9TlA
— NRL (@NRL) February 11, 2023
But the Indigenous cleverly closed out the game, despite a last-gasp effort by the Māori to run the ball out of their in-goal in the dying seconds.
The Māori led 12-10 at halftime and had the winning of the game in sight at the end of the third-quarter, ahead 18-16.
However, two fourth-quarter tries to Indigenous player Selwyn Cobbo ended the Māori dream.
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Match Highlights 🎥 - #NRLAllStars 2023
— NRL (@NRL) February 11, 2023
Selwyn Cobbo starred with a hat-trick as the Indigenous All Stars overcame a gutsy Māori All Stars side 28-24! pic.twitter.com/JXCI233cvI