The Brodie Retallick situation in Japan is getting out of hand

Brodie Retallick’s try-scoring exploits continued on a dramatic weekend in Japan Rugby League One, which saw the All Black second rower move to within four of the competition record, the Saitama Wild Knights win in the 84th minute, and the top position change hands for the third time in as many weeks.

Retallick continues to show why the new All Black boss, his club coach Dave Rennie, wants him back in New Zealand, scoring the try which broke Shizuoka BlueRevs’ resistance as Kobelco Kobe Steelers ground out a 41-20 win.

The second-row marvel has now scored 14 tries in 13 regular season matches and has five games left to try and better the current record of 18, collected three years ago by Sungoliath winger Seiya Ozaki.

Saitama prop Lisala Finau was scoring just his fourth try in League One yesterday, but the Tongan is unlikely to score a more important one, as he plunged through a pile of Sungoliath bodies to help the Wild Knights nick a 36-34 win deep in injury time, denying the home side despite a 24-point haul from their star Springbok Cheslin Kolbe.

Sungoliath, who were seeking their first win over their old rivals since the game resumed in Japan after Covid, looked on course when they led 34-24 with seven of the 80 minutes remaining, but it turned out there was more time left than that, and the Wild Knights made every second count.

Kubota Spears, who were themselves pipped by the concession of an 82nd minute try against the Wild Knights three weeks ago, had no such worries against Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.

The 2022-23 champions became the competition’s third leader for the month of March after they steamrolled Brave Lupus 51-7, with their try-scoring bonus moving them a point ahead of Saitama.

Despite the long-awaited return of All Black backrower Shannon Frizell, the defending champions collapsed in the second half, conceding 34 points without reply.

The fierce mid-table dog fight continues, with Toshiba still in the top six despite seven straight defeats, but their position is under siege.

Mie Honda Heat are only one point behind after they crushed Urayasu D-Rocks 43-17.

Fijian test hooker Tevita Ikanivere led the way with two tries, while Israel Folau’s seventh try of the season and Jasper Wiese’s third went unrewarded as D-Rocks crashed to a ninth defeat in a row.

Toyota Verblitz are a point behind Honda after Aaron Smith won the battle of the test scrumhalves in their 33-27 win over Faf de Klerk’s Yokohama Canon Eagles.

Verblitz held firm during a 10-minute period late in the game when they had just 13 men after both of their second rowers were dispatched to the sin bin.

Despite a third try in as many matches by Lukhanyo Am, the Springbok centre’s Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars were outclassed 33-7 by BlackRams Tokyo.