Watch: Ex-NRL cult hero scores a try on Japan Rugby League One debut

Former Dolphins NRL center Valynce Te Whare has scored a try on debut for the Shizuoka Blue Revs in the Japan Rugby League One.

The 24-year-old New Zealand-born player starred off the bench in a close 15-13 victory over the Brodie Retallick-led Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Iwata, Japan.

Te Whare replaced Damian Markus in the 60th minute, scoring within three minutes of coming onto the field.

The replacement utility back received a short inside ball from reserve hooker Richmond Tongatama that put Te Whare through the Steeler’s defence, before stepping an oncoming defender and then beating the fullback for pace on the outside.

The game was hanging in the balance after 109-Test All Black Brodie Retallick crossed the line in the first half to give the Steelers the lead.

Te Whare’s second-half try turned the tables for the Blue Revs, getting them back in the game with less than 20 minutes to go in the round one match.

The Shizuoka Blue Revs substitutions early in the second half proved to be a pivotal moment in the game, providing the impact needed to overcome a strong Steelers side.

The transition back to Rugby Union seems to have started smoothly for Te Whare, who spent most of his life playing the sport before playing a couple of years for the Dolphins in the NRL.

His Rugby League career started strongly, bursting onto the NRL scene with a double against the Cronulla Sharks at the 2023 Magic Round in Brisbane. Although the talent Te Whare holds has always been clear, he has never really staked a claim to play consistently in the NRL.

After playing 13 times for the Dolphins in 2023, he never really put consistent games together in 2024 to get into Wayne Bennett’s top team.

Te Whare has constantly fought back and tried to get back into playing after Bennett called for him to get “fitter” in order to be back in contention for a starting place.

Heading into the 2024 NRL season, Te Whare was sent by Dolphins staff to a personal boot camp in order to get his weight under control, that was key to Wayne Bennett’s decision to send him away before the season starts.

Bennett told media ahead of the season that Te Whare wasn’t up to NRL fitness standards.

‘I’ve sent Val away to get fitter – that’s the situation,’ Bennett told News Corp in late 2023.

In a new journey in rugby union, Te Whare will be hoping to regain confidence, look for constant game time and showcase his skillset in a new professional pathway for Te Whare.