Latest news with #JoeCouch
National Post
28-05-2025
- General
- National Post
Roughriders' Joe Couch happy to be back with team after being cut
Joe Couch can get back to tracking ball flights and not airline flights. Article content Article content After being released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on May 14 during the second round of training camp cuts, the 30-year-old punter considered flying back home to Australia as he pondered his future. Article content He also considered sticking around Canada in hopes of getting back on a CFL roster. Article content The decision was made easier when Roughriders long snapper Jorgen Hus extended an invitation to Couch to stay at his Saskatoon home with his family of four as he waited for another opportunity. Article content Article content 'I was kind of just waiting to see what was happening across the league, and then, yeah, if I didn't get a call, I'd be on my way back to Australia,' said Couch, who spent the 2024 season on Saskatchewan's practice roster. 'I was honestly prepared to leave Wednesday when I got cut, but I was like, 'You know what? I'll stick around because I've worked hard and I think if, after a couple of weeks, maybe a team will bring me in.' Article content 'It's such a funny game, like anything can happen, so you've just got to stay ready and that's what I was doing.' Article content While Couch had his own bag of footballs he could practice with, Hus also put him to work. Article content 'He was cooking me up beautiful dinners so I was like, 'I want to help this guy out,' ' said Couch. 'He was planning on getting all these trees in before he left to Regina (for the third week of training camp). So we had some holes to dig and some evergreens to put in. Article content 'And babysit. He's got two girls, so you know, if one's being a bit of a hassle, I'll just jump in and be like 'Alright, let's watch TV, or let's put on some Paw Patrol or something.' ' Article content 'He was a great babysitter,' said Hus, father of a nearly two-year-old and an eight-week-old. 'It was good having him around. He was definitely a lot of help around the house and was good with the kids. Article content 'And yeah, we put him to work in the backyard, but we fed him well.' Article content And no, Couch didn't stay on the couch. Instead, he got the spare bedroom. Article content 'We didn't put Couch on the couch,' chuckled Hus. Article content Article content Following the retirement of Adam Korsak this off-season, Couch was in competition with fellow Aussie Bailey Flint for Saskatchewan's starting punting job this year. Article content However when Couch was released, Flint handled all the punting duties in Saskatchewan's first pre-season game against Winnipeg — averaging 40.6 yards per punt. Hoping to increase that statistic, the Roughriders opted to bring back some competition with Couch being re-signed on Monday. Article content 'Obviously being here last year, they recognized that I could just fit in and get the job done,' said the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder. 'And obviously I was really happy to be back when they called me so I get to see the boys again.'
National Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Roughriders announce more roster cuts
Article content The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced a second round of roster cuts. Article content Article content After releasing seven players on Saturday, the Roughriders cut another group of players from their training camp roster in order to get down to the CFL's limit of 75 players by Wednesday. Article content Two players released spent the 2024 season with the Riders including national offensive lineman Noah Zerr and Global punter Joe Couch. Article content The other players released included American defensive back Nicario Harper, American receiver Ty James, American defensive lineman Justin Jefferson, American defensive back Leon Jones and American running back Khalan Laborn, who has CFL experience with the Ottawa Redblacks. Article content The Roughriders continue training camp this week in Saskatoon before the annual Green and White Day on Saturday. Following that, the club will have Sunday off before another full week of camp in Saskatoon followed by the team's first pre-season game on May 24 in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers. The game is set for 2 p.m. at Princess Auto Stadium and will be livestreamed exclusively on CFL+. Article content The team will then return to Regina for the final week of training camp from May 26-29 before Saskatchewan's second and final pre-season game against the Bombers on May 30 at Mosaic Stadium, which will also be exclusively shown on CFL+ beginning at 7 p.m. Article content Article content Article content
CBC
09-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Punting Aussie looks to take the next step with the Riders
After a season on the practice roster, Australian punter Joe Couch is trying to boot himself a spot on the Saskatchewan Roughriders lineup.
CBC
09-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Aussie punter finding his footing with the Sask. Roughriders
Joe Couch is a long way from home. The Aussie punter has taken the long way to Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp. "I tried Aussie rules football back home and it just didn't work out for me," Couch said after the Riders rookie training camp practice on Thursday in Saskatoon. "I had a father that played for a long time and I tried to chase that, but I got to a point where I was like, you know what, I'm gonna try something different." Couch had friends who had come over to the U.S., so he sent film to some colleges and ended up playing three years at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark. Couch said that when he came up to Regina last May, he was surprised at how warm it was. "Then you figure out a couple months later it's a little bit chilly," he said. Couch said he's been working on his consistency in his quest to be the team's punter. "I probably had the best teacher in Adam [Korsak] last year," Couch said of the fellow Aussie punter who retired this year after playing the past two seasons with the Riders. "He's the smartest punter I've ever come across. Learning from him wasn't just catch and kick, he taught me about the sport and the craft of punting." Riders head coach Corey Mace said Couch has a huge leg. "He has just a boomer of a leg and I know the thing he wanted to work on the most this off-season was just his placement," Mace said. "For him to have self reflection on that and put a full off-season into that, I'm looking forward to when we have full special teams periods to see that work come to fruition for him." Couch said having to kick in the windy conditions of the Prairies is challenging. "The wind is blowing one way and then it's going the opposite direction on the other side of the field," he said. "Playing in Saskatchewan is going to make you a better punter because your technique just has to be so spot on." Fellow rookie kicker Ben Hadley, who hails from the Maritimes, agreed the wind is something you have to contend with. "I thought I was coming from the windiest part of the the country, but I guess it's pretty windy out here too," said Hadley, who played five seasons with USport's Saint Francis Xavier X-Men. "It's definitely a different environment out here," Hadley said of his first pro experience.. "I'm just trying to come in, do my job, have some fun and and do whatever the team kind of needs me to do." He said one difference is he did a lot more kicking in practice at the university level. "They're always telling me stop kicking, don't over kick. And that's been hard to get through at first, because all I want to do is just kick, kick, kick," he said. "I have to realize that it's a long training camp and I got to be healthy at the end too." Rider placekicker and fellow Bluenoser Brett Lauther reached out to Hadley before camp. "He's a Nova Scotia, kind of, legend and to hear from him was pretty cool," said Hadley, who skipped his graduation ceremony to get ready for camp. Mace said Hadley has shown he belongs in camp. 'He's been a good kicker throughout USports and even in pre-practice you see him one-stepping some 45 to 50 [yarders]," Mace said. "So he's got the leg talent to do it and he definitely deserves an opportunity."
