CRL Newcastle representative Isabelle Kelly has fired the Australian Jillaroos to a thrilling 26-24 win over New Zealand in their women's rugby league Test.
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The superstar centre produced two pieces of brilliance on Saturday including the 75th-minute match winner to get the world champions home against an injury-hit and gallant Kiwi Ferns at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.
Despite losing halfback Kimiora Nati (knee) and co-captain Laura Mariu (shoulder) either side of half-time, the New Zealanders refused to yield and pushed the Australians all the way in a see-sawing second half.
"We could call it a scare," Jillaroos coach Brad Donald said.
"The girls have come out of a premiership [NRLW] where they only played 60 minutes and we knew it was going to be tough. We knew it was going to come down to the last five or six minutes.
“It was one hell of a game and one hell of a performance from both sides and showcased how good women's rugby league is at the moment."
