Toshiba Brave Lupus vs Kobe Steel Predictions - Toshiba Brave Lupus set to advance to the final

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 22 May 2025

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Brad Newcomb 22 May 2025

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Toshiba Brave Lupus have lost once in 18 home matches.
Toshiba Brave Lupus have defeated Kobe Steel in 5 of their last 6 games.
Kobe Steel winless in last 3 visits to Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Toshiba Brave Lupus are on a six-match unbeaten run against Kobe Steel (Getty Images)

Toshiba Brave Lupus vs Kobe Steel Predictions

Toshiba Brave Lupus vs Kobe Steel Predictions
Head to Head
Toshiba Brave Lupus Form
Toshiba Brave Lupus Team News & Injuries
Kobe Steel Form
Kobe Steel Team News & Injuries

Toshiba Brave Lupus have defeated Kobe Steel twice this season and have an outstanding record at home. Kobe Steel have been in excellent away form but are on a winless streak against Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Toshiba Brave Lupus have won 4 of their last 5 matches.
Toshiba Brave Lupus have lost once in 18 home fixtures.
Toshiba Brave Lupus have won 5 of their last 6 games against Kobe Steel.
Kobe Steel have won 5 consecutive away matches.
Kobe Steel are winless in their previous 3 visits to Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Head to Head

Toshiba Brave Lupus have a slight edge with five victories to four against Kobe Steel, including one draw in ten meetings.

Toshiba Brave Lupus Form

Toshiba Brave Lupus beat Kobe Steel 32-26 at home and 73-28 away in the Japan Rugby One this season.

Toshiba Brave Lupus defeated Kubota Spears 31-27, the Wild Knights 42-31, Honda 59-21, and lost 56-26 to the Shizuoka Blue Revs before beating the Canon Eagles 49-28 in the last five home fixtures in the Japan Rugby League One.

Toshiba Brave Lupus finished first on the Conference A log with 71 points from 18 games.

Toshiba Brave Lupus have the home-ground advantage for their semi-final clash against Kobe Steel, registering one defeat in 18 fixtures.

They have also not lost against their opponents in their previous six meetings, which include five victories and one draw.

Toshiba Brave Lupus Team News & Injuries

Takuro Matsunaga has scored 174 points for Toshiba Brave Lupus in this edition of the Japan Rugby League One.

Jone Naikabula has scored 15 tries for his club this season.

Kobe Steel Form

Kobe Steel scored a converted try, a penalty, and were awarded a penalty try in the first half against the Shizuoka Blue Revs in their playoff match last weekend, going into the break with a 17-10 lead.

Kobe Steel scored two tries, a conversion and two penalties in the second half to beat the Shizuoka Blue Revs 35-20 away from home and progress to the semi-finals.

Before that victory, Kobe Steel lost 46-32 to the Wild Knights before defeating Tokyo Sungoliath 39-27, the Black Rams 27-24, the Urayasu D-Rocks 33-20, and the Canon Eagles 47-29 in their last five away fixtures in the Japan Rugby League One.

Kobe Steel finished 3rd in the Conference A standings with 51 points from 18 matches.

Kobe Steel have found form away from home during the latter stages of the season, winning five in a row. However, they have lost twice to Toshiba Brave Lupus this season, and are winless in their previous three away games against their hosts.

Kobe Steel Team News & Injuries

Waisake Raratubua, Seungsin Lee, and Inoke Burua scored a try each against the Shizuoka Blue Revs.

Fly-half Bryn Gatland kicked three penalties and two conversions in the match, taking his tally to 182 points for the season.

Kanta Matsunaga and Ataata Moeakiola have scored 11 tries each in the 2024/25 Japan Rugby League One.

Verdict

Toshiba Brave Lupus v Kobe Steel

Toshiba Brave Lupus have a proven track record of winning matches at home and are tipped to cover the -7.5 handicap in their semi-final match against Kobe Steel.