Watch: Richie Mo’unga snaps Kubota’s unbeaten run with last-gasp winner

56-Test All Black Richie Mo’unga has produced one of the biggest moments in the 2025/26 Japan Rugby League One season, scoring an 80^th-minute match-winner as Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo sunk the previously unbeaten Kubota Spears 24-20.

This was a rematch of last season’s decider, with Tokyo defending their champions’ crown with a 18-13 win over Kubota on June 25. But the Spears have again emerged as one of the teams to beat through the first five rounds of the current campaign.

Kubota boasted a flawless 5-0 record ahead of Saturday’s round six fixture, with the Saitama Wild Knights the only other undefeated side. Bernard Foley led the way as the first division’s top point-scorer, and the former Wallaby was first to strike against Tokyo.

Foley knocked over a penalty attempt from near the 40-metre line to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage inside the opening 10 minutes. Tokyo almost took the lead about five minutes later but the TMO ruled blindside flanker Afu Ofeina had knocked the ball on while reaching out to score.

Kubota held onto their lead for a bit longer but there was something inevitable about Tokyo, who continued to unleash wave after wave of attacking pressure. Michael Stolberg would eventually cross for the home side, but Mo’unga failed to add the extras.

Ruan Botha was shown a yellow card 35 minutes into the contest, which saw Kubota go down to 14-players to end the half. Tokyo made the most of their advantage, with Mo’unga converting a Kohei Takahashi try in the final play before the break.

One-Test All Black Shaun Stevenson reduced the visitors’ deficit less than two minutes into the second term, running in support of scrum-half Shinobu Fujiwara, who broke upfield before dishing off the ball with an effective draw-and-pass.

Yamada Hibiki gave Kubota a slender advantage with 15 minutes left, only for Toshiki Kumayama to effectively cancel out that effort with a Tokyo try soon after. With Mo’unga failing to turn five points into seven, the scoreboard read 17-all with about five to go.

Foley was cool under pressure in a potentially game-defining moment, sending the ball through the uprights with a penalty attempt about 15 metres in from touch, 30 metres back. Kubota had a three-point lead with only a couple of minutes left, leaving Tokyo in search of a hero.

Up stepped Mo’unga.

Players in red through everything at their opponent’s defensive wall, having made their way deep into their attacking 22. With the try line practically within reach, Tokyo built up 17 phases before Mo’unga got the ball six metres out from the chalk.

Mo’unga had the ball in two hands, weighing up multiple options in a split second. The 2023 Rugby World Cup finalist decided to take the line on, beating two defenders with a right-footed step before slamming the ball down to the right of the posts.

The former All Black knocked over the conversion to give Tokyo a hard-fought four-point win. They now have the same record as Kubota and Brodie Retallick’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers, who have won five and lost one in their six matches to date.