“The Winning Try” is a 2025 Korean drama, 12 episodes, categorized as Youth, High School, Sports, Coming-of-Age, and Comedy, and streaming on Netflix.
- Memorable Quote: “I am a man with many titles.”
SUMMARY: The career of a rugby star collapses after a scandal, forcing him to start all over. He returns as a coach years later, confronts old wounds, rekindles lost relationships, and leads a struggling team to triumph.
♦ Who Wants to Be a Loser? I Did It Once. I Can Do It Again!
“The Winning Try” is set against the backdrop of high-school rugby competition. Ju Ga-Ram was a celebrated rugby talent whose promising athletic career collapsed after a highly publicized scandal. After years away from the spotlight and with his reputation in tatters, Ju Ga-Ram returns to his old high school as the rugby team’s new coach.
The high school’s rugby club is infamous for its perpetual last-place finishes and lack of cohesion. When Ju Ga-Ram arrives, he is met with disregard, wounded pride, and a team that has all but given up on winning. Yet his appointment signals the start of a transformation. The rebirth will involve a change in strategy, physical training, belief in yourself, and collective purpose. Ju Ga-Ram’s coaching style is unorthodox. He mixes tough love with humor. The students get pushed beyond their limits while also nurturing individual confidence.
Bae I-Ji, the shooting team coach, was once his lover. Their romance ended after the scandal. Bae I-Ji is strong, principled, and deeply committed. Just being there forces Ju Ga-Ram to confront professional and personal challenges. As they reconcile their past, admiration and attraction, mutual respect and trust are rediscovered.
♦ Everybody Loves a Winner!
Meanwhile, the rugby team also grows. Yoon Seong-Jun, the team captain, is determined but hot-headed. He embodies the youthful struggle for identity and leadership. Initially, he doesn’t trust Ju Ga-Ram’s methods, but gradually, he becomes the emotional core for the team. Other team members bring their own personal battles: injuries, academic pressure, and family expectations.
Ju Ga-Ram’s ongoing effort to clear his name and reconnect with the spirit of play fuels the storyline. It’s all about redeeming oneself, and of course, it’s about winning! The series culminates with the team qualifying for a National Sports Festival. Will they win? They’re going to try.
Main Characters:
- Ju Ga-Ram (played by Yoon Kye-Sang, “The Frog”, “The Kidnapping Day”, “Spiritwalker”)
- Bae I-Ji (played by Lim Se-Mi, “Hijack 1971”, “My Dearest Nemesis“, “Wonderful World”, “The Worst of Evil”, “Duty After School”)
- Yoon Seong-Jun (played by Kim Yo-Han)
- Oh Yeong-Gwang (played by Kim E-Jun)
- So Myeong-U (played by Lee Su-Chan)
- Do Hyeong-Sik (played by Yoon Jae-Chan)
Viewership and Rating:
- IMDb: 7.9 out of 10 stars
- My Drama List: 8.5 out of 10 stars
- Dramabeans: 7.5 out of 10 stars
My personal rating is the same as MDL.
“The Winning Try” is for those who love underdog sports stories. I’m one of “those”. Ho doesn’t love universal themes of second chances and the trans-formative power of sport. universal themes of second chances and the trans-formative power of sport. We can’t all be the G.O.A.T., but don’t we all wanna be?
LINKS OF INTEREST:
Review: The Winning Try. | The Fangirl Verdict
REVIEW: ‘The Winning Try’ Boasts K-Drama Intensity With The Spirit of Rugby | But Why Tho?
The Winning Try: Yoon Kye-Sang and Im Se-Mi Lead Feel-Good Rugby Drama | South China Morning Post
TRAILER/TEASER:
Netflix K-Content. “The Winning Try.” YouTube, 10 Jul. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=B9zPCvSacD0.
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