Episode 3 of "The Winning Try" kicks off with the ripple effects of Tae-pung's defection from Hanyang to Daesung, a maneuver subtly orchestrated by the Vice Principal and Coach Kim, presenting Ga-ram with yet another hurdle and handing the Vice Principal a fresh pretext to dissolve the team. The rugby squad finds itself one player shy, and Ga-ram is given a mere three days to recruit a replacement, despite falsely assuring a meeting that he already had a prospect lined up up. He vows to unveil this new recruit at the second semester's opening ceremony, a pledge that sends the team into a tizzy. Seong-jun advocates for confronting Tae-pung directly, but Ga-ram conceives a different strategy.
He begins by physically assessing his current teammates, mapping out the ideal profile to complement their lineup. Ga-ram concludes that they require a burly, swift player to fill the gap. His next step is to identify such a candidate from the special admissions files in the data room. However, as a newcomer to the school, his access to the room is restricted. Undaunted, Ga-ram employs the principal's card in his quest. Unfortunately, the vital cabinet remains locked, guarded by none other than Bae I-ji.
Meanwhile, Nak-gyun tries to pry information out of I-ji about Ga-ram's intended recruit. I-ji is momentarily clueless, but Nak-gyun senses her proximity to Ga-ram and urges her to share any insights she gleans. I-ji brushes him off and focuses on coaching Woo-jin. At this juncture, Seol-hyun enters to commence her training, her session inadvertently disrupting by her proximity to Woo-jin. I-ji attempts to redirect Seol-hyun to a different lane, but Nak-gyun insists she trains as she pleases. To avoid a confrontation, Woo-jin hastily completes her final drills and concludes her session early.
Ga-ram's strained relationship with I-ji complicates his task of seeking the keys from her. After weighing various scenarios and anticipating a potentially hostile reception, he musters his courage and seeks I-ji in the shooting club room. The tension between them lingers, rendering his approach a delicate maneuver.
In the training room's hushed ambiance, I-ji finds herself momentarily absent, unaware that Ga-ram seizes the chance to sidestep seeking her consent. He deftly snatches the key when an opening arises. Meanwhile, I-ji returns to the office, where her attention is abruptly drawn to a figure slipping into the data room on the CCTV monitor. Without hesitation, she sounds the alarm, grabs her BB gun, and dashes towards the compromised area. The entire school, from coaches to students, converges on the data room, and soon after, the police arrive on the scene, leading to Ga-ram's prompt arrest. I-ji accompanies him to the police station to record her statement.
Once the matter at the station is settled, I-ji confronts Ga-ram, demanding to know why he chose to return to Hanyang, especially when he had numerous other options, including joining a professional team. Ga-ram confesses his longing to play rugby once more but admits there was something specific he was seeking at Hanyang—something he had missed so profoundly that he could no longer resist its pull. Though I-ji storms off in frustration, Ga-ram's words echo persistently in her mind.
Ga-ram fails to return to school the following day. The vice principal grilled I-ji about his whereabouts the next morning, assuming Ga-ram had fled due to having no other choices left. Consequently, the vice principal tasks the shooting coach with drafting a budget reallocation plan for the rugby team. Heung-nam mentions casually that Ga-ram might be out recruiting a new player, a suggestion that sends shivers down the spine of both the vice principal and Nak-gyun. Rushing back to the cabinet, they discover one crucial file missing, their suspicions now piqued even further.
Meanwhile, Ga-ram arrives at Seokchan-ri, determined to seek out his recruit. After a lengthy search, he finally reaches his intended destination. There, he unexpectedly encounters another rugby legend, Mun Cheol-yeong, better known as Rhino. Rhino's promising career was abruptly halted by a devastating knee injury. Now, he runs a restaurant alongside his son, Mun Ung, who happens to be Ga-ram's target recruit. Convincing Ung to join proves to be an uphill battle, as Rhino has vowed to stay away from rugby and does not want his son entangled in its world.
Undeterred, Ga-ram persists, trying various tactics to entice Ung to return with him to Hanyang. His big break comes when he crosses paths with the U-20 national rugby team during one of their training sessions. Ga-ram orders food and cleverly tricks Ung and Rhino into attending the training. From a distance, Cheol-heong watches, haunted by flashbacks of his own storied career.
Ung, on the other hand, is utterly captivated, especially when he gets the chance to throw a pass back to the team. It's clear that Ung possesses raw talent, but he won't join Ga-ram without his father's blessing. Recognizing Rhino, someone approaches him, causing Rhino to panic and flee. However, he crashes the van on the way back. Ga-ram rushes Ung to the hospital, where Rhino violently confronts him, accusing him of disrupting their lives and planting the seed of rugby in Ung's mind.
The assault quickly escalates into a police matter, forcing Ga-ram to reach a settlement to secure Rhino's release. As part of the agreement, Ga-ram agrees not to press charges on the condition that Rhino accompanies him for a walk. During this walk, Ga-ram compels Rhino to engage in an honest dialogue about their respective careers. He confesses that his own greed ruined his life and career, recalling the moment in his final game when he chose drugs over trust in himself and his teammates.
Ga-ram also accuses Rhino of making a similar mistake. He argues that their careers did not end due to a lack of talent or the nature of the game, but rather because they played rugby in the wrong way. Hence, Rhino should not hold Ung back due to his own past errors. Ga-ram's words appear to strike a chord, as Rhino advertises for a new deliveryman the very next morning, implicitly allowing Ung to follow Ga-ram back to Hanyang.
Back at school, the rugby team is anxious, awaiting Ga-ram's return. The vice principal prepares to sound the trumpet as the clock marks the start of the opening ceremony. However, his moment is stolen when Ga-ram and Seok-bong make their iconic explosive entrance, bringing along the new rugby team player, Mun Ung. The rugby team erupts in excitement, leaving Jeong-man completely speechless.
