A forward pass from former Melbourne Rebels hooker Shota Horie that ruled out an 80th-minute try was a cruel end to the Japanese legend's 16-year career as his Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights were beaten 24-20 by Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in an epic Japan Rugby League One final.
Despite trailing for much of a match that see-sawed through the last 20 minutes on Sunday, the Wild Knights thought they had won it when winger Tomoki Osada crossed after a 15-phase build-up, only to have the try scrubbed on the advice of the TMO after he detected a pass from the 38-year-old Japan star that had floated forward in the build-up.
