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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

19

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.

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.