Fiji-born Wallabies center Samu Kerevi has faced a challenging start to his season with the Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan, as his team suffered a significant defeat of 62-19 against the Shizuoka Blue Revs. This loss marks a tough initiation for the newly promoted club, which has already allowed 93 points over the first two weekends of the Japan Rugby League One.
Kerevi, alongside former Wallaby star Israel Folau, finds themselves with a 0-2 record in this fourth edition of the league. Verblitz’s Joseph Manu, a recent NRL recruit, also experienced a setback as his team lost 21-17 to Mie Heat, despite Manu’s debut try the previous week.
In another competitive matchup, ex-Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley narrowly missed a chance to secure victory for Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, which lost 26-24 to the Wild Knights, coached by Robbie Deans. This defeat underscored a disappointing trend, marking the 16th time in the last 17 encounters that the Spears have struggled against the Wild Knights.
In a glimmer of success, the Kobe Steelers managed to snatch their first win of the season, defeating the Yokohama Eagles 36-18 under the direction of fellow ex-Wallaby coach Dave Rennie. Additionally, Brave Lupus Tokyo continued their strong title defense with a remarkable performance, overwhelming the Sagamihara Dynaboars 61-8, scoring seven tries in just 20 minutes.
While the beginning of the season has not been ideal for Kerevi and others, there is still ample opportunity for improvement as the league progresses. The competitiveness of the teams and the high level of talent suggest that brighter days are ahead for these athletes as they adapt and grow in the league.
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