Samu Kerevi, the Fiji-born centre for the Wallabies, is experiencing a challenging beginning to the season with the Urayasu D-Rocks, following a significant 62-19 defeat against Shizuoka Blue Revs. The newly promoted team has faced difficulties, having allowed a total of 93 points over the first two weekends of Japan Rugby League One.
The rough start has also affected other high-profile players such as Joseph Manu, an NRL recruit for Verblitz, who faced a close loss of 21-17 against Mie Heat despite scoring a try in his debut the previous week. Similarly, former Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley had the chance to clinch a last-minute victory but missed his penalty goal attempt, resulting in another narrow defeat for Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, who lost 26-24 to the Wild Knights.
Speaking of the Wild Knights, they have now defeated Spears in 16 out of their last 17 encounters. On a more positive note, the Kobe Steelers secured their first victory of the season with a convincing 36-18 win over Yokohama Eagles, under the guidance of ex-Wallaby coach Dave Rennie. Additionally, Brave Lupus Tokyo continues to impress in their title defense, achieving their second win by overwhelming Sagamihara Dynaboars with a score of 61-8, showcasing a remarkable performance that included seven tries within just 20 minutes.
This season, while some teams struggle, it is encouraging to see others find their footing and achieve significant wins. The competition remains fierce and full of potential for surprises as the league unfolds.
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