Toby Couchman's journey from Dragons fan to star forward revealed ahead of 'special' Anzac Day clash
Toby Couchman and his family used to circle the Anzac Day game against the Roosters in the calendar and travel up to Sydney to watch their beloved Dragons in action.
He has plenty of fond memories including Matt Dufty's slashing solo try in 2019 where he beat five would-be defenders, but it's now his turn to create memories for the next generation of fans.
Couchman will start in the front row on Friday at Allianz Stadium having lost his only other Anzac match 27-26 thanks to a Luke Keary field goal.
'I played my first Anzac game in 2023 and it was super special because growing up, that was the one game that me and my family went to,' he said.
'Every year, all six of us would try to get to that game as a family. It was always such a special day to watch the Dragons and Roosters play in front of a big crowd.
'When I got to play in 2023, I couldn't believe it. I'm sure it'll be no different this year.'
Couchman has been a Dragons fan his whole life and looked up to Jack de Belin when he was moving through the grades.
He was lucky enough to get a photo with him after an Anzac match one year, but the pair have now formed a potent combination in the middle where they've combined for line-breaks with short passes in each of the past two games.
'We work pretty hard at training together,' Couchman said after he burst clear against Manly last week.
'I love working with Jack. I'm pretty good mates with him and we've got a pretty good combo going at the moment. It's nice to have success on the field because we've been working really hard at training.
'When he was playing Origin in 2018, I was pretty young and I looked up to him because he was a Dragons player.
'As soon as I got into first grade, he was awesome for my brother and I.
'It's pretty surreal to be playing with him now because he was someone I always looked up to.'
Couchman has been in career-best form this year averaging 112 metres per game, while he's already had 10 offloads this season after producing 11 in the previous two years combined.
He is playing huge minutes in the middle where he was supposed to be carving up alongside his brother Ryan who suffered a serious knee injury in round one which ended his season.
'I was devastated for him,' he said.
'The work that he puts into his game, it doesn't seem like it's fair. But that's the way the ball rolls sometimes.
'I know what he's like so he's going to work hard and come back even better. I really thought this year was going to be massive for him, but we're going to have to wait until next year.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
12 hours ago
- The Age
Magic and madness of Walker's return leaves Robinson with crucial Roosters call
Sam Walker's long-awaited rugby league return - with his typical play-making magic and madness - will leave Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a potential season-defining call to make about his scrum base. With lungs burning and extremities freezing on a sunny, but blisteringly cold Sunday afternoon, Walker returned from a ruptured ACL for his first footy in nine months. The Roosters' million-dollar halfback played the first 40 minutes of a 28-16 NSW Cup loss to Parramatta at Kellyville Oval, with Robinson, assistant coach Matt King and NSW Origin stars Spencer Leniu and Angus Crichton in attendance. Walker's bright return included plenty of defensive work and an eye-catching 60-metre intercept of a dummy-half pass. His kick from the very next first-tackle play held the promise of a spectacular try for his far winger - only for the ball to sail dead in the kind of all-or-nothing play that makes Walker one of the game's must-watch playmakers. It is a matter of when, not if, the 22-year-old returns to the NRL, potentially as early as Saturday's clash against Newcastle. Who Robinson chooses as Walker's scrum base partner - towering rookie halfback Hugo Savala, or fellow livewire Sandon Smith, shapes as a crucial call not just for this season, but also the pair's longer-term futures, given the club's interest in Daly Cherry-Evans for next season.
Sydney Morning Herald
12 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Magic and madness of Walker's return leaves Robinson with crucial Roosters call
Sam Walker's long-awaited rugby league return - with his typical play-making magic and madness - will leave Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a potential season-defining call to make about his scrum base. With lungs burning and extremities freezing on a sunny, but blisteringly cold Sunday afternoon, Walker returned from a ruptured ACL for his first footy in nine months. The Roosters' million-dollar halfback played the first 40 minutes of a 28-16 NSW Cup loss to Parramatta at Kellyville Oval, with Robinson, assistant coach Matt King and NSW Origin stars Spencer Leniu and Angus Crichton in attendance. Walker's bright return included plenty of defensive work and an eye-catching 60-metre intercept of a dummy-half pass. His kick from the very next first-tackle play held the promise of a spectacular try for his far winger - only for the ball to sail dead in the kind of all-or-nothing play that makes Walker one of the game's must-watch playmakers. It is a matter of when, not if, the 22-year-old returns to the NRL, potentially as early as Saturday's clash against Newcastle. Who Robinson chooses as Walker's scrum base partner - towering rookie halfback Hugo Savala, or fellow livewire Sandon Smith, shapes as a crucial call not just for this season, but also the pair's longer-term futures, given the club's interest in Daly Cherry-Evans for next season.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Dolphins dazzle in 50-point demolition of Dragons
Loading Key posts 9.50pm Farnworth adds last-minute try for dazzling Dolphins 9.32pm A try for the Dragons! 9.26pm That's 50 for the Dolphins 9.23pm Katoa, Isaako put Dolphins within reach of 50 9.11pm Hammer goes over as Dolphins reach 40 9.07pm Dolphins pile on more pain with Lemuelu bagging a double 8.46pm Bostock scores a screamer to cap dream first half for Dolphins 8.37pm Cook to the centres as Lemuelu scores a stunner Hide key posts Latest posts Latest posts 10.12pm on Jun 6, 2025 Dolphins destroy Dragons in record-breaking win By AAP The Dolphins have rocketed into the top eight for the first time this year with a 56-6 demolition of St George Illawarra on what is officially known as Queensland Day. That could easily be rebranded Dolphins Day on the back of another scintillating display by halfback Isaiya Katoa. The Dolphins started the season 0-4 but head coach Kristian Woolf kept true to his systems and did not panic. The so-called 'Wayne Bennett curse' has been spooked into oblivion. The only downside for the Dolphins, now in seventh on the ladder, was a knee injury to forward Max Plath on his return from a foot issue. The opening 40 minutes on Friday night was a pure rugby league clinic as the home side rocketed to a 28-2 half-time lead at Suncorp Stadium. The second half was just as good. The forwards and backs were punishing in defence, halves Kodi Nikorima and Katoa combined in a masterclass and to a man the Dolphins played scintillating attacking rugby league. The diabolical Dragons simply had no answer. The Dolphins had their previous biggest winning margin over St George Illawarra in a 38-0 victory last year but this record breaker was another level, surpassing the 44 points they had notched on two previous occasions. When second-rower Connelly Lemuelu stormed over for his second try four minutes after the break, Nikorima and Katoa had two try assists each. Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow then put the nail in the Dragons' coffin for a runaway try in combination with centre Jake Averillo, who was brilliant with three try assists. Katoa landed a 40-20 and then laid on a try for winger Jamayne Isaako's second try. Dolphins hitman Felise Kaufusi set the scene early with a back slam on centre Valentine Holmes to dislodge the ball. From that moment the Dolphins dominated. The depth of the Dolphins' attacking line was a sight to behold and it was star centre Herbie Farnworth who crossed for his 50th career try in the 11th minute after a sweeping right to left play. Winger Jamayne Isaako added a second in the right corner after a mirror image play for a 10-2 lead. Katoa was pivotal in both by going deep into the line to create space. He then beat three men and Nikorima raced away to score. A towering bomb by Katoa was expertly snaffled by Lemuelu for a 22-2 lead. Dolphins winger Jack Bostock haunted opposite number Nathan Lawson, the former Australian rugby sevens Olympian. Bostock smashed Lawson in one huge hit and then leapt above him to score after a Nikorima bomb. The Dragons lost winger Christian Tuipulotu to a hamstring injury in the first half on his return from the same complaint while forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner left the field in the second half with shortness of breath. 9.55pm on Jun 6, 2025 Stats snapshot of a Dolphins demolition 9.52pm on Jun 6, 2025 Watch: Dolphins bring up their 50 9.50pm on Jun 6, 2025 Farnworth adds last-minute try for dazzling Dolphins The Dolphins finish this one off in style, back-rowers Oryn Keeley and Connelly Lemuelu combining before sending Herbie Farnworth clear to score his second try of the night and the final one of the game. He touches down with seven seconds left on the clock, and Jamayne Isaako lobs over the conversion. That's a combined 100 points from the Dolphins' past two games, after their 44-6 drubbing of the Bulldogs. Are they a dark horse in this year's premiership race? Full-time: Dolphins win 56-6 9.32pm on Jun 6, 2025 A try for the Dragons! It's the dictionary definition of 'consolation try' but the Dragons have a four-pointer at last, with a left-side shift ending with a diving Valentine Holmes touching down in the corner. It's only a four-pointer with Holmes' conversion attempt drifting wide. 9.26pm on Jun 6, 2025 That's 50 for the Dolphins This is a training run for the Dolphins. The running game of the two halves continues to wreak havoc on the Dragons defence, with Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima linking up and drawing several defenders before a long Nikorima pass unleashes Jack Bostock down the left flank. Bostock sends it inside for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and the Dolphins have 50 points tonight. There's already been a lot of bad news for Dragons fans tonight and here's more: there is still 20 minutes left. 9.23pm on Jun 6, 2025 Katoa, Isaako put Dolphins within reach of 50 No mistakes from Katoa this time. This time the Dolphins halfback drives a low kick from just outside his 30-metre line and it's a perfectly placed 40-20. His team now gets a shot at the Dragons line and you get the feeling they'll make the most of it. And they do. It's only takes a few tackles for the Dolphins to create an overlap on the right, Val Homes forced to come inside to stop Jake Averillo who finds an unmarked Jamayne Isaako out wide. Isaako misses the conversion but it hardly matters at this point. Dolphins lead 44-2 with 22 minutes left 9.18pm on Jun 6, 2025 Rare attacking raid for Dragons Finally – a mistake by Isaiya Katoa. The red hot Dolphins halfback puts up a bomb a little too close to the sideline, and canny Dragons centre-turned-winger Val Holmes plants his foot on the sideline before catching it. That's out on the full, and the visitors get to start their set in Dolphins territory. They finally look good in attack, stretching the Dolphins' defence on the right edge and then testing them out on the left, before a last-tackle bomb is put down by the Dolphins' Jack Bostock. Another full set inside the 20 now for the Dragons, from a scrum. But it only lasts a couple of tackles before Hamish Stewart puts down a short ball from Jack de Belin. 9.11pm on Jun 6, 2025 Hammer goes over as Dolphins reach 40 This is getting ugly for the Dragons. Jake Averillo conjures something out of nothing for the Dolphins, taking the ball form a standing start, drifting wide and then bursting clear from inside his own 40 metres. He looks inside and finds a supporting Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and nobody's catching him. This is going to be a real statement win for the Dolphins, while St George Illawarra will do well to avoid conceding the dreaded 50 points. 9.07pm on Jun 6, 2025 Dolphins pile on more pain with Lemuelu bagging a double ...It's panning out badly for the Dragons. The Dolphins have picked up where they left off, getting a set in attacking territory after an error from rookie Dragons winger Nathan Lawson. The hosts send it through the hands down the left, with a flurry of short passes – quality offloads from Mark Nicholls and Isaiya Katoa – putting Connelly Lemuelu over for his second try of the night. Jamayne Isaako kicks his fifth conversion of the evening and this scoreline could be anything.
