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Kobelco Kobe Steelers claim JRLO title in thriller as Dave Rennie ends title drought


Inoke Burua of Kobelco Kobe Steelers celebrates scoring a try during the NTT Japan Rugby League One Playoff Tournament final between Kobelco Kobe Steelers and Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay at MUFG Stadium on June 07, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
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Dave Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers have battled their way to a Japan Rugby League One title, claiming a 22-13 triumph over the Kubota Spears at MUFG Stadium in Shinjuku.

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The 2026 title is the club’s first since 2018, and the new All Blacks coach’s first club title since the Super Rugby championship in 2013 with the Chiefs.

The JRLO final was a physical battle from minute one, with both defences forced to fight for their lives for long periods of attacking phase play.

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It was the experience of Ardie Savea, Brodie Retallick, Ash Dixon, and Inoke Burua that helped claim Kobe’s first championship since 2018, while Seungsin Lee’s boot provided a guaranteed three points when given the opportunity.

Former All Blacks and Chiefs fullback Shaun Stevenson was exceptional for the Kubota Spears, kicking an important 50/22 during the first half, and doing everything in his power during the second half to get his side back into the contest. Stevenson finished with a game-high 18 carries and two line breaks.

Frans Ludeke’s side were without star hooker Malcom Marx through a rib injury, while the top tackler in the Japan Rugby League One competition, Tyler Paul, was also missing for the final.

Match Summary

5
Penalty Goals
2
1
Tries
1
1
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
119
Carries
113
4
Line Breaks
3
9
Turnovers Lost
14
12
Turnovers Won
5

Ludeke’s side started the better of the two sides in the final, looking dangerous through Stevenson.

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Savea, an All Black centurion, provided Kobe with the first important play of the game, holding up a Spears ball carrier under the posts.

The top-of-the-table Steelers struggled to get out of their own end during the opening quarter, with Scott McLeod’s defensive structure for the Spears limiting any line-breaks for Kobe.

Former Wallabies first-five Bernard Foley had the honours of opening the scoring in the 2026 final, after a Kobe player was caught off his feet.

The two sides then traded successful penalties minutes later, before the Spears scored the first try of the evening.

Stevenson picked up the ball in his own half, smashing a 50/22 to get his side an opportunity inside the Steelers’ red zone. A couple of strong carries from the tight-five went close, before Keijiro Tamefusa powered through a couple of tackles to dot down.

Foley added the extras, securing a 13-3 lead after 24 minutes of action.

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27-year-old Burua was offered an opportunity down the left hand touchline through a grubber kick by Shunsuke Uenobou.

The Kobe Steelers fullback saw the space behind the defence with Stevenson up in the line, where Burua chased, and planted the ball in the corner despite multiple last-ditch tackle attempts.

Lee converted from the sideline, closing the gap to only three.

It seemed as though everything Stevenson touched turned to gold, breaking the line and dragging a number of defenders to bring him down. It took an exceptional breakdown steal by Burua to stop one counter-attack nearing halftime, where Stevenson put Haruto Kida through a gap.

On the stroke of halftime, Lee levelled the scores on the back of a Spears player defending in an offside position.

Player Carries

1
Shaun Stevenson
18
2
Anton Lienert-Brown
16
3
Ardie Savea
16

HT: 13-13.

Neither team budged early on in the second half, with defenders constantly throwing themselves at the attacking ball carrier.

A messy 30 seconds of play resulted in a penalty to Kobe, with one Spears defender deemed to be offside, as Lee obliged from out in front to give Rennie’s side their first lead of the final.

Both teams worked hard to wrestle momentum in their favour, but it was Ludeke’s side who struggled to defend long phases without giving away penalties. That’s where the next points on the scoreboard came from; this time, it was Stevenson who stopped a try-scoring opportunity.

Lee continued his 100 per cent kicking accuracy off the tee, extending Kobe’s lead to six, 19-13.

Retallick stole a lineout from the Spears moments later, but it was Shigure Takao who came up with the huge play on their line, getting his hands on the ball at the breakdown after a dangerous Spears lineout drive.

Abrasive runs from both Anton Lienert-Brown and Savea helped get the Kobe Steelers over the advantage line minutes later, before referee Katsuki Furuse penalised a Spears player for infringing at ruck time.

Rennie’s side could have iced the game with a three, taking them to a nine-point lead, but they opted for the set move from the short tap, holding onto the ball for twelve phases before losing possession.

The Kobe Steelers thought they had the winner with just under ten minutes to play, but the TMO ruled Burua to have knocked the ball on in the build up.

Replacement Spears halfback Bryn Hall chased a chip kick in behind right on Kobe’s line, but lost control of the ball as he went to place the ball on the chalk.

Another lineout error from the Kobe Steelers gifted the Spears an opportunity, which they couldn’t take with both hands, providing the table-toppers with a breakdown penalty with only a few minutes on the clock.

Rennie’s side overpowered the Spears at scrum time twice in the closing stages to claim the 2026 Japan Rugby League One title.

FT: 22-13 to the Kobelco Kobe Steelers.


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Comments

4 Comments
B
B 32 mins ago

A positive for Dave Rennie, his staff and players to bow out winning the JRL One Final…

But after everyone and everything has settled down, I'm sure the AB’s Head Coach will be at FMG Stadium on Friday, and Hnry Stadium Saturday watching the 4 teams that will make up the bulk of his 34 AB’s Squad…

T
TokoRFC 1 hr ago

I hope Rennie carries some confidence from this into the ABs job.


I know us kiwis often construe confidence for arrogance but a kind of quite self assurance was sorely lacking in Razors coaching decisions unfortunately.

j
johnz 9 mins ago

I think Rennie looks very comfortable in his own skin. He’s been around the block and knows what he’s getting himself into. Razor was like a duck out of water, unfortunately. When stripped of his familiar environment in Crusader country - his confidence quickly evaporated. Hopefully he’ll come back somewhere stronger, better for the adversity. He’s certainly gone a bit quiet.

B
BH 45 mins ago

Not only was it a lack of self assurance but also a big lack in communication in his reasonings for his game strategies and team selections.

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