Inspirational play from former Jillaroo Nakia Davis-Welsh has helped the Indigenous All Stars women gain sweet revenge with a 10-4 win over the Maori on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Winger Davis-Welsh burst back on to the big stage by scoring the match-winning try in the 47th minute after setting up another as the Indigenous women bounced back from last year’s 8-4 All Stars defeat.

A member of the Jillaroos’ 2017 World Cup winning team, Davis-Welsh appears back in top form after missing a season of footy following the birth of her first child in 2019.

The Sydney Roosters NRLW contracted player was everywhere for the Indigenous women, helping them hit back from a disastrous start.

The Maori sounded their intentions early when centre Kerehitina Matua bulldozed her way through five defenders to open the scoring in just the second minute.

However, scores were level at 4-4 by halftime after a clever Nakia Davis-Welsh offload set up Stephanie Mooka’s 12th minute try.

Davis-Welsh also proved invaluable at the defensive end, pulling off a stunning try-saving 39th minute tackle to deny Kiana Takairangi.

There were some anxious moments as both teams chanced their arm to break the deadlock.

Fittingly Davis-Welsh had the final say in the nail-biter.

With 13th minutes left on the clock Tallisha Harden gathered a Jenni-Sue Hoepper bomb and set up Davis-Welsh to crash over and ice the result.

Indigenous backrower Shaylee Bent – fresh from chiming into the Dragons’ NRL Nines triumph in Perth – and Maori pivot Raecene McGregor were also outstanding.

Meanwhile, Maori fullback Botille Vette-Welsh was placed on report for a shoulder charge on centre Rhiannon Revell-Blair while Indigenous fullback Shakiah Tungai came off the field in the second half with a shoulder injury after a hit from Maori prop Harata Butler.