Daiki Nakajima and new arrival Ngani Laumape each scored a hat-trick of tries to spark Kobe Steelers to a 58-36 win over Hanazono Liners in Japan Rugby League One action Saturday.

The Nick Holten-coached Steelers bounced back from a first-round loss to Yokohama Eagles, racking up a total of nine tries in their home opener at Kobe Universiade Stadium.

Ngani Laumape scores a try for Kobe Steelers in the first half of a Japan Rugby League One match against Hanazono Liners at Kobe Universiade Stadium in western Japan on Dec. 24, 2022. (Kyodo)

Semisi Masirewa crossed twice and kicked a conversion for the Osaka Prefecture-based Liners, who remain winless following their promotion to the top flight.

A converted Akihide Onogi try gave the visitors an early lead before former All Blacks center Laumape dotted down in the 13th minute, enabling the Steelers to tie the game 7-7 on Lee Seung Sin's conversion.

Laumape went over again three minutes later, with Lee's conversion and a subsequent penalty stretching Kobe's advantage to double digits at 17-7. The hosts never relinquished their lead, with the Liners coming closest at 22-21 in the 34th minute on Tevita Tupou's converted try.

Kobe scrumhalf Nakajima bolstered his case for a spot in Jamie Joseph's Japan World Cup squad, crossing in the 36th minute and twice more in the second half.

In Saturday's other match, Brave Lupus Tokyo held off Black Rams Tokyo 17-7 at Ajinomoto Stadium.


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