Fiji-born Wallabies center Samu Kerevi is facing a challenging beginning to the season in Japan while playing for the Urayasu D-Rocks, who suffered a significant defeat, losing 62-19 to the Shizuoka Blue Revs. The newly promoted team has had a rough start, conceding a total of 93 points over the first two weekends of the Japan Rugby League One competition.
Kerevi is not alone in this difficult run; former Wallaby star Israel Folau is also experiencing a winless start, as is NRL recruit Joseph Manu. After scoring a try in his debut last week, Manu found himself on the bench on Saturday, watching as Steve Hansen’s team fell to Mie Heat with a close score of 21-17.
In a dramatic finish, ex-Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley missed a late penalty goal that could have salvaged a win for Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, resulting in a narrow 26-24 loss to the Wild Knights, which marks the Spears’ 16th defeat in their last 17 encounters with this team.
On a more positive note, the Kobe Steelers achieved their first win of the season with a solid 36-18 victory against the Yokohama Eagles under coach Dave Rennie, and the Brave Lupus Tokyo continued their strong title defense with an impressive 61-8 win against the Sagamihara Dynaboars, highlighting their dominance by scoring seven tries in just 20 minutes.
While the early season has been tough for some teams and players, it also showcases the competitive nature and unpredictability of the league. This season still holds potential for turnaround and redemption for teams like the D-Rocks, who have every opportunity to improve and make a comeback in upcoming matches.
In summary, despite a rocky start for several players and teams, there is a hopeful outlook as the season progresses, with many games still remaining to give these athletes a chance to turn their fortunes around.
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