How teen star's half-time speech inspired Indigenous comeback

A half-time speech by 19-year-old Ella Koster to her more experienced Indigenous team-mates has been revealed as the inspiration behind their last gasp 20-18 triumph over the Māori Ferns.

Koster, who played six NRLW matches in the second-row for the Dragons last season, and fellow rookie Lailani Montgomery combining to spark a second half comeback in Saturday night's epic All Stars clash.

The pair were thrust into action after injuries to Kirra Dibb and Bobbi Law, with Koster playing centre and 20-year-old Montgomery taking over the halfback duties – and both stood up.

Taking control of the match, Montgomery laid on the only try of the second half for Koster and kicked two late penalty goals - including one after the fulltime siren - to secure back-to-back wins against the Māori Ferns for the first time.

To do so the Indigenous All Stars not only had to overcome the loss of Dibb and Law but an 18-12 half-time deficit after losing momentum in the second quarter as the Māori Ferns scored three unanswered tries.

Indigenous co-captain Tallisha Harden told the post-match press conference how Koster had taken the reins of the half time chat to encourage her team-mates to go back out and fight for their culture. 

“I just told the girls, we’ve had this theme all week - mob deep - and to us, it means that this sport or this time is bigger than us,” Koster told NRL.com.

“The people that come before us and the people that are here, our coaching staff have worked hard, and we’ve worked too hard to just give up.

I think kind of what I said, was just like lift for everyone else … if you can’t do it for yourself, do it for everyone around you.

"It was honestly the most amazing game I’ve ever played. Nothing compares to it.

"I’ve played in Papua New Guinea, played for the Dragons and played Under 19s Origin, but playing for my culture and playing with that group of girls, it was just so special.

"The Māori girls really gave us that fight, like we expected and yeah, it was just amazing to get that win."

Forced to take over the playmaking role after Dibb suffered an injury to her lower leg in the 23rd minute, 20-year-old Montgomery became the unlikely hero for the Indigenous All Stars.

Having played just five NRLW games for the Titans, Montgomery overcome her initial nerves to seize the opportunity with both hands and steer the Indigenous All Stars to a nail-biting win.

“Kirra is such a dominant half, she loves to take control and that’s her role. It’s what she’s really good at and you know, it is hard when that main person in your team goes down," Montgomery said.

"The amount of support and confidence I got from my teammates outside me was incredible. I just got to step up into that role so confidently because of my own teammates.”

After Koster’s words of encouragement at halftime, the Indigenous All Stars governed the opening stages of the second half, but the match came down to the final play after a Montgomery field goal attempt was charged down.

The Māori Ferns gained possession, and the match appeared destined for a draw.

However, Indigenous co-captain Quincy Dodd used her captain's challenge to appeal for a knock-on and the review by the bunker found Māori five-eighth Ash Quinlan had contacted Montgomery's leg after the kick in a dangerous manner. 

The ruling left Montgomery needing to kick her second penalty goal to snatch victory after earlier having levelled the scores in similar circumstances after having the ball stripped in a tackle.  

“It was a pressure kick, especially when it was right in front," she said. "I felt good going in and then you know, you hear all the boo’s and then your head starts to play games.

"It’s right in front, so you better not miss it. It is just one of those things that I just had to block it out, just soak up in the moment.

"It’s just one of those moments that you dream of, and you know, I’m pretty lucky to be able to do it in my first year, let alone any year to be honest. But it just means something so different.

"Culture is just so deep, and it just tops any other win hey, like doing it for your mob. I had 40-plus people in the crowd there for me so that just shows how much people turn up for me and it was cool to turn up for them.”

Coming from a strong women’s side of culture, this game means everything to Montgomery as she strives to bring the women’s game to the top level in future.

Despite her age and relative inexperience, Montgomery is aware that she is a role model and of the impact performances like Saturday night's All Stars win can have.   

“I come from a women’s side of culture, so all the women in my family are big strong leaders. I don’t actually have men leaders in my culture from my mum’s side of the family," she said.

"With this sport, us girls we’re getting into it, we’re making it there. But you know it’s not there yet, and that’s alright because we will get there, we’re paving the way."