{"id":419249,"date":"2026-01-17T14:25:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T14:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/419249\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T14:25:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T14:25:14","slug":"brodie-retallick-is-creating-havoc-in-japan-rugby-league-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/419249\/","title":{"rendered":"Brodie Retallick is creating havoc in Japan Rugby League One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/new-zealand\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">All Blacks<\/a> might be looking for a new coach, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/new-zealand\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Zealand<\/a> Rugby might be well served trying to talk a second rower into returning home too, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/brodie-retallick\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brodie Retallick<\/a> continuing to cause havoc in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/japan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Japan<\/a> Rugby League One.<\/p>\n<p>The 120kg colossus was to the fore as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/kobelco-kobe-steelers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kobelco Kobe Steelers<\/a> slammed TJ Perenara\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/blackrams-tokyo\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">BlackRams Tokyo<\/a> 67-21 in today\u2019s Memorial match in Hygo that marked the 31st anniversary of the Great Hansin earthquake which devastated the region in 1995.<\/p>\n<p>Retallick was devastating on the field, scoring four tries, while fellow former (Waikato) Chief, flyhalf <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/bryn-gatland\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryn Gatland<\/a>, weighed in with 27 points.<\/p>\n<p>Relishing the opportunity to showcase his athleticism and ball skills that the more open game in Japan offers, Retallick\u2019s haul took his tally to seven for the season, tying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/saitama-wild-knights\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Saitama Wild Knights<\/a> hooker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/atsushi-sakate\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atsushi Sakate<\/a> at the top of the try-scoring standings.<\/p>\n<p>The quartet extended his overall harvest to 30 from 54 appearances since he linked with Kobe.<\/p>\n<p>      Japan Rugby League One      <\/p>\n<p>Overall Standings<\/p>\n<p>P<\/p>\n<p>W<\/p>\n<p>L<\/p>\n<p>D<\/p>\n<p>PF<\/p>\n<p>PA<\/p>\n<p>PD<\/p>\n<p>BP T<\/p>\n<p>BP-7<\/p>\n<p>BP<\/p>\n<p>Total<\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5204.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Kubota Spears\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 24 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/19567.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Saitama Wild Knights\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 24 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5203.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Kobelco Kobe Steelers\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 20 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/19702.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 19 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5209.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Tokyo Sungoliath\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 15 <\/p>\n<p> 6 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/10005207.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Urayasu D-Rocks\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 12 <\/p>\n<p> 7 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5212.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Shizuoka BlueRevs\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 10 <\/p>\n<p> 8 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5208.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"BlackRams Tokyo\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 8 <\/p>\n<p> 9 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/594.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 10 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5211.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Toyota Verblitz\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 11 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/10005202.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Mie Honda Heat\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 12 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5200.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Yokohama Canon Eagles\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p>Conference A<\/p>\n<p>P<\/p>\n<p>W<\/p>\n<p>L<\/p>\n<p>D<\/p>\n<p>PF<\/p>\n<p>PA<\/p>\n<p>PD<\/p>\n<p>BP T<\/p>\n<p>BP-7<\/p>\n<p>BP<\/p>\n<p>Total<\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/19567.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Saitama Wild Knights\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 24 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/19702.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 19 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/10005207.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Urayasu D-Rocks\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 12 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5212.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Shizuoka BlueRevs\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 10 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/594.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 6 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5200.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Yokohama Canon Eagles\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p>Conference B<\/p>\n<p>P<\/p>\n<p>W<\/p>\n<p>L<\/p>\n<p>D<\/p>\n<p>PF<\/p>\n<p>PA<\/p>\n<p>PD<\/p>\n<p>BP T<\/p>\n<p>BP-7<\/p>\n<p>BP<\/p>\n<p>Total<\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5204.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Kubota Spears\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 24 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5203.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Kobelco Kobe Steelers\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 20 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5209.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Tokyo Sungoliath\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 15 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5208.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"BlackRams Tokyo\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p> 3 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 8 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5211.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Toyota Verblitz\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 1 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 4 <\/p>\n<p> 6 <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/10005202.png.webp.webp\" alt=\"Mie Honda Heat\"\/>   <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 5 <\/p>\n<p> 0 <\/p>\n<p> 2 <\/p>\n<p>Dave Rennie\u2019s men are third after five rounds, with the lead shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/kubota-spears\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kubota Spears<\/a> and the Wild Knights, with the former ahead by a point on point\u2019s differentials.<\/p>\n<p>Wins by 29 points for each side saw the differentials status quo retained.<\/p>\n<p>The Spears crushed Steve Hansen\u2019s hapless <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/toyota-verblitz\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Toyota Verblitz<\/a> 39-10, while the Wild Knights inflicted more misery on the Jesse Kriel-led Yokohama Canon Eagles, handing the home side their fifth loss of the season courtesy of a 50-21 win.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/shizuoka-bluerevs\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shizuoka BlueRevs<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/tokyo-sungoliath\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tokyo Sungoliath<\/a> stopped the rot after recent runs of defeat, with Kwagga Smith\u2019s men ending a barren three-game spell with a 47-36 win over Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars, which featured try-scoring doubles for the victors by former National Rugby League men, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/semi-radradra\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Semi Radradra<\/a> and Valynce Te Whare.<\/p>\n<p>Coming off back-to-back defeats against Kubota and Kobe, Sungoliath pulled away from a game <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/mie-honda-heat\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mie Honda Heat<\/a> in the dying moments of a 30-15 win, with Heat\u2019s chances taking a fatal blow when ex-(Wellington) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/hurricanes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hurricanes<\/a> second rower <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/mark-abbott\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mark Abbott<\/a> was red carded.<\/p>\n<p>Graham Rowntree\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/teams\/urayasu-d-rocks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Urayasu D-Rocks<\/a> suffered their second defeat as they fell 38-27 to Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.<\/p>\n<p>Despite out-scoring their rivals six-tries-to-three, the defending champions battled to shake off last season\u2019s wooden spooners, who trailed by just four points entering the final 15 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Even in defeat, the scoreline was indicative of D-Rocks\u2019 massive improvement under the Englishman\u2019s tutelage, with Brave Lupus having put 61 points on Urayasu when they met last season.<\/p>\n<p>Meiji University claimed its 14th title as the All-Japan University <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/the-rugby-championship\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rugby Championship<\/a> reached a pulsating conclusion, beating archrivals Waseda University 22-10 in front of 43,000 excited fans in Tokyo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The All Blacks might be looking for a new coach, but New Zealand Rugby might be well served&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":419250,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-419249","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-rugby","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=419249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/419250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=419249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=419249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=419249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}