Rugby: Bond between Mo'unga, Leitch underpinned Brave Lupus triumph
By Sean Miyaguchi, KYODO NEWS - 17 hours ago - 16:51 | Sports, Rugby, All
As the final siren signaled an end to this year's Japan Rugby League One final, victorious man-of-the-match Richie Mo'unga immediately looked for one Brave Lupus Tokyo teammate.
The former All Black wanted to share the moment at Tokyo's National Stadium with captain Michael Leitch, who Mo'unga credited with helping him find his way in Japan over the past two seasons, culminating in back-to-back titles with Sunday's 18-13 win over the Kubota Spears.
Mo'unga, who was visibly emotional at the end of the match in front of 51,009, likened the Brave Lupus No. 8 and Japan's 2019 Rugby World Cup skipper to a "big brother" whose influence was felt throughout the Toshiba-owned club, based in the western Tokyo city of Fuchu.
"The first person I sort of looked for was Leitchy," said the 31-year-old Mo'unga, after playing through a broken hand in the final. "I'm so proud of him and just in awe of what he does for this club and the man that he is, and what he stands for."
While foreign stars have tended to play in Japan on short-term contracts toward the ends of their careers, Mo'unga arrived during his prime on a three-year deal at the start of last season, giving up the opportunity to play internationally for New Zealand during that time.
He described New Zealand-born Leitch, who moved to Japan in high school, as both an inspirational leader and the glue that held together the home-grown and overseas-born players comprising the Brave Lupus squad.
"I sort of speak on behalf of a lot of foreign players that come to Toshiba (Brave Lupus), where he just makes life so much easier for us," he said. "He's like a big brother and to see him have the success, for him to captain and lead the side, I'm proud to be a follower of someone like him."
The pair had one-on-one time in the week leading up to the final as they undertook injury recovery therapy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
"I tried to have a conversation with him, but as soon as he gets in there he just sleeps," Mo'unga laughed.
Head coach Todd Blackadder said the joint leadership provided by Mo'unga and the 36-year-old Leitch had been the bedrock for Brave Lupus as they became the first two-time champions in the League One era.
"Him and Leitchy together are a great combination," Blackadder said. "Together they really lead our team and in different areas -- one could be tactically, once could be mindset, they feed off each other really, really well."
Lauding Mo'unga as an "incredible player," Leitch said the star playmaker had embraced life in Fuchu among his new Brave Lupus teammates.
"He loves where we live. He loves the club. He showed that through his performance," Leitch said.
Related coverage:
Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles
Rugby: Brave Lupus aim to retain League One title in trademark style
Rugby: Spears hold off Sungoliath to reach League One semis
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