Watch: Wallaby Noah Lolesio scores hat-trick in JRLO masterclass

Wallaby Noah Lolesio scored a hat-trick as Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi ran away with a commanding 52-27 win last weekend, slicing through the Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves defence in a masterclass performance.

Lolesio went six from eight off the goal-kicking tee as well, finishing with a 27-point haul as the visitors maintained their strong position in Japan Rugby League One division two, as they’re currently level on points with ladder-leaders Hanazono Kintetsu Liners.

Manie Libbok is the only player who has scored more points than Lolesio in the second division this season, with the Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok recording 98 points in 10 appearances. But Lolesio has scored 90 in just six matches, including 36 successful conversions.

The 26-year-old, who played 30 Tests for the Wallabies and famously led the ACT Brumbies to a Super Rugby AU title in 2020, made a game-changing impact for Toyota on Saturday by running in a try in the 28^th minute.

Kamaishi Seawaves fly-half Kazushi Ochi cut the deficit to just two points with a penalty goal in the first half, before Lolesio made something special from nothing by taking the line on. With the ball in two hands, Lolesio shaped to pass before taking on a couple of defenders.

Lolesio broke through a tackle attempt and wasn’t going to be stopped so close to the try line, shuffling around another defender before reaching out to score to the left of the upright. The No. 10 had been heavily involved in the phases leading up to the score and reaped the rewards.

Toyota took a 12-3 lead deep in the half with Lolesio adding the extras, before the home side hit back through Kaisei Takai. It ended up being a four-point game at the break, before a point-scoring blitz determined the victor during the second term.

Lolesio got the second half underway with the kick-off, with Toyota regathering possession and immediately making their way upfield. Toyota were in the red zone 20 seconds after Lolesio’s restart, with scrum-half Takumi Sue making an impressive run.

There was a sense of déjà vu when Lolesio again took the line on, pinning the ears back after noticing a gap in the defence. Lolesio dove under the sticks less than 40 seconds into the half, which set the tone for what was to come in the match.

Fritz Jahnke-Tavana and Atsushi Yumoto scored one try each before Lolesio completed a hat-trick just shy of the 60-minute mark, carrying the ball about 22 metres to the house to all but seal the win for the high-flying Toyota outfit.

Lolesio added the extras to make it a 38-13 ballgame, before teammates Yumoto and Taleni Seu crossed for five-pointers later in the contest. Toyota have improved their record to 8-2 and have scored significantly more tries than other teams in the second division.