Japanese League One 2022 Dream Team: Kruis, Kerevi and McKenzie

May 30, 2022
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Ultimate Rugby

The Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights beat Suntory Sungoliath 18-12 in the inaugural final of Japan Rugby League One at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Sunday.

Sunday’s victory was Deans’ fifth with the Wild Knights, matching his five Super Rugby crowns with the Crusaders.

Following the conclusion of the season, the competition's organisers have released the team of the season.

International stars George Kruis, Kobus van Dyk, Matt Todd, Kwagga Smith, Isaac Lucas, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, and Damian McKenzie have all been named in the team.

Meanwhile, Japanese star Shota Horie has been named as the season's MVP.

Keita Inagaki, Kwagga Smith and Dylan Riley all make the team for a second season in a row. Prop Inagaki has made the team for a remarkable 8th consecutive season.

Winger Koga Nezuka is likely to earn a call up to the Japanese team for the July international after he was awarded the Newcomer of the Season.

The team of the season is:

1-Keita Inagaki (Saitama Wild Knights)

TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 29: (L-R) Shota Horie, Atsushi Sakate, Shohei Hirano, Keita Inagaki and Asaeli Ai Valu of the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights celebrate after the NTT Japan Rugby League One Play Off final between Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights at National Stadium on May 29, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Eighth consecutive season that he has made the team of the season.

2-Shota Horie (Saitama Wild Knights)

TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 29: Shota Horie of the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights lifts the trophy in front of supporters after their victory in the NTT Japan Rugby League One Play Off final between Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights at National Stadium on May 29, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

The 2022 MVP of the season.

3-Opeti Helu (Kubota Spears)

Most dominant tackles made (12).

4-Jacob Pierce (Brave Lupus)

KUMAGAYA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 19: Jacob Pierce of Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo competes for a line out ball during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match between Saitama Wild Knights v Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on February 19, 2022 in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)

5-George Kruis (Saitama Wild Knights)

OSAKA, JAPAN - MARCH 14: George Kruis of Panasonic Wild Knights in action during the Top League match between NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes and Panasonic Wild Knights at Yanmar Field Nagai on March 14, 2021 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

6-Kobus van Dyk (Canon Eagles)

TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 25: Kobus van Dyk of the Canon Eagles runs with the ball to score his side's first try during the Top League Playoff Tournament 2nd Round between NTT Communications Shining Arcs and Canon Eagles at the Edogawa Stadium on April 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)

Top 10 in the competition for minutes played, lineout steals, lineout takes, breakdown steals, tackles and carries.

7-Matt Todd (Brave Lupus)

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 13: Matt Todd of Toshiba Brave Lupus runs with the ball during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match between Toshiba Brave Lupus and NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on March 13, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Competition's top tackler (156).

8-Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blues Revs)

Second consecutive year in the team of the competition. Most breakdown steals (14).

9-Takahiro Ogawa (Brave Lupus)

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 05: Takahiro Ogawa of Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo runs with the ball during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match between Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Yokohama Canon Eagles at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on March 05, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)

10-Isaac Lucas (Black Rams)

TOKYO, JAPAN - APRIL 24: Isaac Lucas of RICOH BlackRamsTokyo kicks the ball during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match between Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on April 24, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Most tackle breaks in the league (87).

11-Marika Koroibete (Saitama Wild Knights)

TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 29: Marika Koroibete of the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights makes a break during the NTT Japan Rugby League One Play Off final between Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights at National Stadium on May 29, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Top 10 in the league for running metres, tries, offloads, linebreaks, and tackle-breaks.

12-Dylan Riley (Saitama Wild Knights)

KUMAGAYA, JAPAN - APRIL 16: Dylan Riley of Saitama Wild Knights runs with the ball during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match between Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and Kobelco Kobe Steelers at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on April 16, 2022 in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Joint top try scorer (11).

13-Samu Kerevi (Suntory Sungoliath)

TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 29: Samu Kerevi of the Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath is tackled by Dylan Riley of the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights during the NTT Japan Rugby League One Play Off final between Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights at National Stadium on May 29, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Top 10 in the league for carries, running metres, linebreaks, and tackle-breaks.

14-Koga Nezuka (Kubota Spears)

KUMAGAYA, JAPAN - MAY 07: Nezuka Koga of Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay scores a try during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match between Saitama Wild Knights and Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on May 07, 2022 in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)