Samoa's women have been denied one of the greatest boilovers in international rugby league history, giving up a 20-0 lead to be beaten 22-20 by New Zealand.
In their first match in the top-tier of the Pacific Championships, Jamie Soward's Samoa looked set to shock the three-time world champions after a 20-0 first half.
But they ran out of gas after the break, as New Zealand scored three tries in the space of five minutes before a 90-metre effort from Mele Haufaga won it late.
A Samoan win would have marked the first time in history either Australia or New Zealand had been beaten by any team apart from each other.
Still, the result marks Samoa's rise given they were ranked 26th in the world as recently as two years ago.
And while they now have three current State of Origin players, the likes of winger Jessica Patea and forward Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa are yet to play NRLW.
In a dominant first half, the NRLW's rookie of the year Shalom Sauasa bumped off five defenders with her first touch in international football to score.
Centre Sarina Masaga was just as good, splitting to defenders to score one try and flicking a ball back inside for a Tavarna Papalii try after another linebreak.
But in the end, New Zealand's experience showed in the second half and Samoa couldn't wrestle back control.
Halfback Raecene McGregor kicked twice for tries, with the first a shallow one for Shanice Parker and the other a grubber that hit the posts before Alexis Tauaneai scored.
In between those tries Ashleigh Quinlan also went 12 metres to score from dummy-half, as the Kiwi Ferns' 20-0 deficit became 20-16 with 21 minutes to play.
And while Samoa threatened to hold on, New Zealand had the lead when Hufanga latched onto a kick near her own line and went 90 metres to score.
The result means Samoa must beat Australia at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday to have any hope of reaching the final in the three-team competition.
