Couchman Eyes Future as Young Dragons Pack Shows Promise
St George Illawarra’s Toby Couchman is emerging as a key figure for the Red V, articulating a clear vision for the club’s burgeoning young forward pack. His standout performance in his 50th NRL match against the Brisbane Broncos, a game that saw the Dragons break a gruelling 15-game losing streak with a dramatic 30-26 victory at Suncorp Stadium, has only bolstered his conviction.
Couchman, a former Thirroul Butchers junior, was arguably the most impactful forward on the field, going toe-to-toe with Brisbane’s formidable Payne Haas. While Haas churned out an impressive 281 metres in his return from a six-week injury layoff, Couchman’s own statistics were equally compelling, with 215 metres gained and a staggering 41 tackles. The joy of the win was evident, but Couchman was quick to dispel any notion that the team wasn’t putting in the hard yards behind the scenes.
“We’ve been working our arse off at training,” Couchman stated emphatically. “Every week we show up, we rip in, that’s the whole team, that’s the coaches. We’re not taking the piss. It’s not like some people say. We’re ripping in every day, and that’s what makes it so hard losing, because we’re going into every game thinking we can win if we play our footy.” He acknowledged the difficult start to the season but expressed a strong belief in the club’s potential for better days. “It’s been a rocky start to the season, and the club deserves better, so to get a win, hopefully it’s the first of many.”
The fiery prop credits caretaker coach Dean Young with instilling a renewed sense of belief within the squad. He highlighted that the breakthrough victory was not an isolated incident but rather the culmination of improved performances in recent weeks, including strong showings against Penrith and the Warriors. “It’s so good and it’s such a relief because of how hard the season has been,” Couchman admitted. “I’m not going to hide away from that.”
Couchman, who is 22, is part of a youthful core that includes his twin brother Ryan, a lock forward, also 22. The Dragons’ forward pack is brimming with young talent, with starting prop Loko Pasifiki Tonga and second-row pairing Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart all aged just 21. This group demonstrated their capabilities against the Broncos, laying a crucial platform for the hard-fought win and signalling their readiness to contribute to future successes.
“I never want to let anyone down, and I know the boys, the young forwards, I love playing with them,” Couchman expressed with genuine warmth. “My brother obviously, love playing with him. Hamish, Dylan, I’ve played with them growing up a bit, they just work their arse off. Now Loko is in there and he’s a beast. It’s good having him out there too.”
Given the challenging nature of the current season, Couchman admitted that his immediate focus is on week-to-week performance. However, he couldn’t help but feel optimistic about the future when considering the calibre of players set to join the club. The prospect of integrating talents such as NSW representatives Connor Watson and Keaon Koloamantagi, North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater, Warriors playmaker Luke Metcalf, and Gold Coast speedster Phil Sami by 2027 paints an exciting picture for the Red V.
“Obviously the season has been hard this year – so it’s hard to look too far forward and focus on that – but when you really think about it, there is a possibility here that we could do something big,” Couchman mused. “I definitely want to be a part of it.”
Reflecting on his personal duel with Payne Haas, Couchman expressed admiration for the opposition prop. “When he came onto the scene, I loved watching him,” he said. “He’s an amazing player, and we didn’t handle him too well, but it is pretty cool going up against someone like that.”
The win against the Broncos signifies more than just ending a losing streak; it represents a tangible reward for the team’s dedication and a promising glimpse into what the young St George Illawarra Dragons can achieve in the seasons ahead. With Couchman leading the charge, the future of the Red V looks considerably brighter.
