Watch: Mark Telea bags scintillating double as Retallick extends try lead to four

Mark Telea, Brodie Retallick, and Sam Cane have all crossed for a try on Saturday afternoon for their respective Japan Rugby League One franchises, with Retallick extending his lead at the top of the try-scoring tally to four.

The former All Black centurion, Cane, was on the receiving end of an effective rolling maul by Suntory Sungoliath, separating himself alongside one teammate prior to it being sacked, scoring on the stroke of halftime in their win over Toyota Verblitz.

Retallick, who played 109 Tests for the All Blacks, now has 17 tries for the season after his 48th-minute five-pointer against the Mie Honda Heat for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

Dave Rennie and Mike Blair’s side shifted their attack to the left on the back of a scrum, providing enough space for the former All Black lock to power over with three defenders in close vicinity.

The referee initially thought Retallick was held up before sending it upstairs as a try, where the TMO supported the on-field decision, awarding his 17th try of the 2026 season.

Despite Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s Toyota Verblitz side losing by 16 points to Cane’s Suntory Sungoliath, Telea’s second-half double was a bright spot in their late comeback.

The 19-Test All Black winger snatched the ball out of the air just inside Sungoliath’s half, before fending off a number of defenders to score a superb solo try.

Telea still had a number of defenders to beat, as the Verblitz winger outpaced the final covering defender close to the line.

Telea weighed up his options prior to slipping through the Sungoliath defensive line, taking advantage of some lackadaisical defence.

With multiple chasing defenders in pursuit of the No.14, Telea was stopped just short, before reaching out and planting the ball over the white line.

Rennie’s Kobe Steelers currently sit top of the Japan Rugby League One table with 71 points, two points behind the Saitama Wild Knights with 69.

In a tough matchup in the final regular season round, the Kobe Steelers will travel to take on Shaun Stevenson’s Kubota Spears on Sunday afternoon.

For Hansen’s Toyota Verblitz, they take on the Mie Honda Heat at Suzuka Sports Garden Rugby Ground in Suzuka on Saturday.

Cane’s Tokyo Sungoliath sit comfortably inside the playoff spots in fourth, before hosting the Ricoh Black Rams on Sunday.