Two tries from ex-Sydney Roosters star Joey Manu couldn't save relegation threatened Verblitz as they fell to a ninth defeat of the season, 31-22, against Sagamihara Dynaboars in Japan Rugby League One.
After starting from the bench, the two-time former Premiership-winning Roosters centre scored twice within four minutes of taking the field.
His second try came with a jaw dropping finish when he acrobatically leapt over defender Honeti Taumohaapai to plant the ball down millimetres inside of the corner flag.
The loss leaves ex-All Blacks coach Steve Hansen's 11th-placed outfit four points from safety with six games remaining.
At the top, there is a new leader following Brave Lupus Tokyo's 42-31 win over an error-prone Saitama Wild Knights.
On the back of dominant performances from All Blacks Richie Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell, the defending champions led 28-10 at halftime and were always in control as the Wild Knights suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Just three points separate the top three teams with Bernard Foley's Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay third, after the ex-Wallaby flyhalf experienced an action-packed afternoon as his side beat Yokohama Eagles 41-24 to record their 22nd straight win at Spears Edogawa Field.
The evergreen 35-year-old scored a try, while also kicking two 50/22s as he kept his side on the front foot for most of the afternoon.
Ex-Australia coach Dave Rennie's Kobe Steelers retained fifth after an 80th try from winger Kanta Matsunga avenged last month's two-point defeat by Tokyo Sungoliath with a 39-37 win.
Liam Gill scored twice for Black Rams Tokyo, although the Wallaby backrower's side suffered their second defeat from the last five after a 31-25 reverse at fourth-placed Shizuoka Blue Revs.
Elsewhere, a fifth try in as many games by Samu Kerevi helped bottom-placed Urayasu D-Rocks to their second win of the season, 39-31 against Mie Heat.
The 31-year-old Wallaby midfield back opened the scoring in the game, which turned on the red card issued to Springbok second rower Franco Mostert for an illegal clean-out.
Heat led by two points at the time but succumbed to two late tries.
In Division Two, former Wallaby scrumhalf Will Genia scored twice as Hanazono Liners belted Kamaishi Seawaves 50-8 to boost their hopes of promotion.
