the Couchmen

[Victoire]

Twin trouble for the Titans

Twin's Ryan and Toby Counchman cause the Titans all kinds of trouble in the Dragons round 24 matchup

www.nrl.com

Excited for what the future holds for our club with the tall Thirroul twins in the team. Really coming of age in the back half of this season. They both hung around in front of the southern stand getting selfies with the fans and the beautiful thing is: the kids only need to take a photo with one of them!

 

[hook hook]

Twin trouble for the Titans

Twin's Ryan and Toby Counchman cause the Titans all kinds of trouble in the Dragons round 24 matchup

www.nrl.com

Excited for what the future holds for our club with the tall Thirroul twins in the team. Really coming of age in the back half of this season. They both hung around in front of the southern stand getting selfies with the fans and the beautiful thing is: the kids only need to take a photo with one of them!

They were outstanding. Ipgrading pur team, how I think they fit in is Toby direct replacement for Eisenhuth in the middle and Ryan for RFM with shared middle and edge minutes off the bench

 

[Dorsai]

These two are working hard and thinking with the ball. That in itself is something to look forward to as they develop. Frankly, Flanagan has had a fantastic influence on a lot of our juniors to date. I do not think under previous coaches the Couchman's or others would have progressed to where they are now. There is a lot to look forwards to with our junior players really starting to step up. Just need to ensure we lock them in long term on decent money so they do not look elsewhere.

 

[Victoire]

I think the Couchmen - but in particular Toby - are going to be key leaders for us in 2026 and, if fit and firing, will lead the pack to a better season. I had been slightly pessimistic about our front row with the departure of Klemmer who I thought was clearly our best prop in 2025. But after some consideration I realised the main reason why Klemmer was our best prop: it's because Toby was moved to the backrow and then injured his shoulder. Prior to that, T Couchman was the dude.

The Couchmen just turned 22 a month or so ago. Based on numbers alone, the data suggests middle forwards are at the most productive (aka their peak) between the ages of 24-28, and not in their late 20's or early 30s as many people like to say. Despite being still well under that 24-28 age range, Toby's numbers were formidable for us...

* He was the busiest defender of all our forwards (excluding the hooker), averaging a huge 39.7 tackles a game, more than JDB with 33.52, and way more than the other props Klemmer (29.7) and Guler (26.5). The only prop in the entire NRL who averaged higher was Terrell May, with 42.63.
* With the ball in hand, Toby was a narrow 2nd among our middles for most average metres per game. 106.6, puts him behind JDB with 109.9, but he was well ahead of Klemmer (99.82), Sele (78.4), Lawrie (74.3) and Guler (67.5).
* Toby was our top middle forward for Post Contact Metres - averaging 43.15 per game. Jaydn Sua was the only forward better in this respect, with 46.94. Klemmer was close with 38.45, then its a long drop to JDB with 33.74 and way down to Guler with a pitiful 26.5
* In addition to this, he was also the leading offloader among our middle forwards with 1.23 a game - higher than JDB, Klemmer, Guler, and even Luch Leilua. Again, only Jaydn Sua had a higher number (1.94).

To me, the numbers confirm that, prior to injury, Toby was indeed our best prop. The main question heading into next year might be around his shoulder issues, but he had the reconstruction surgery in around July, so you'd expect the recovery to be fully complete by the start of pre-season training and he'd be ready to hit the ground running. I'm excited to see the form of a more seasoned Toby Couchman (and Ryan) in 2026. Particularly with his surprising offload numbers. Watching Joe Tapine in that Pacific Championships final offloading the Samoans to death basically has me feeling bullish about what a Couchman-Kerr combo (Josh Kerr 1.33 per game) can produce for us.

 

[Slippery Morris]

100% Victorie, Toby is a gun and will be a very important players for the Saints in years to come. The Couchmans, Egan, Stewart and Halagahu will be key to Saints future in years to come.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

I think the Couchmen - but in particular Toby - are going to be key leaders for us in 2026 and, if fit and firing, will lead the pack to a better season. I had been slightly pessimistic about our front row with the departure of Klemmer who I thought was clearly our best prop in 2025. But after some consideration I realised the main reason why Klemmer was our best prop: it's because Toby was moved to the backrow and then injured his shoulder. Prior to that, T Couchman was the dude.

The Couchmen just turned 22 a month or so ago. Based on numbers alone, the data suggests middle forwards are at the most productive (aka their peak) between the ages of 24-28, and not in their late 20's or early 30s as many people like to say. Despite being still well under that 24-28 age range, Toby's numbers were formidable for us...

* He was the busiest defender of all our forwards (excluding the hooker), averaging a huge 39.7 tackles a game, more than JDB with 33.52, and way more than the other props Klemmer (29.7) and Guler (26.5). The only prop in the entire NRL who averaged higher was Terrell May, with 42.63.
* With the ball in hand, Toby was a narrow 2nd among our middles for most average metres per game. 106.6, puts him behind JDB with 109.9, but he was well ahead of Klemmer (99.82), Sele (78.4), Lawrie (74.3) and Guler (67.5).
* Toby was our top middle forward for Post Contact Metres - averaging 43.15 per game. Jaydn Sua was the only forward better in this respect, with 46.94. Klemmer was close with 38.45, then its a long drop to JDB with 33.74 and way down to Guler with a pitiful 26.5
* In addition to this, he was also the leading offloader among our middle forwards with 1.23 a game - higher than JDB, Klemmer, Guler, and even Luch Leilua. Again, only Jaydn Sua had a higher number (1.94).

To me, the numbers confirm that, prior to injury, Toby was indeed our best prop. The main question heading into next year might be around his shoulder issues, but he had the reconstruction surgery in around July, so you'd expect the recovery to be fully complete by the start of pre-season training and he'd be ready to hit the ground running. I'm excited to see the form of a more seasoned Toby Couchman (and Ryan) in 2026. Particularly with his surprising offload numbers. Watching Joe Tapine in that Pacific Championships final offloading the Samoans to death basically has me feeling bullish about what a Couchman-Kerr combo (Josh Kerr 1.33 per game) can produce for us.

Agree

the Couchmen are clinical in their defence and wrestle and finding metres in attack for fast play of the balls without being dominated in the oppositions wrestle

in particular Toby but both could end up similar levels in 2026

students of the game

equally Egan and Hamish

that is a big rush of 4 players that create a vibe of professionalism for such young guys

to think LKT and LPT and Nick T are not far behind is great momentum to changing the expectations among the whole team

top down the training standards and work rate of The King, Cookie, Holmes, Kyle, Sua and bottom up the 7 above are driving standards

that’s a serious influence of culture ie 11 players of the top17

Let’s go and let’s grow with a little more attacking class in Atkinson etc helping that cause

another addition or two in 2026 will help the fight but the tough part is other teams have improved their lists and we are relying on the development of our youth pushing up to NRL dominant levels

 

[Wolfgang90]

The key is being healthy, injuries stunt their development & experience opportunities. Toby has good footy IQ too, different types of tackles & run lines.

 

[Slippery Morris]

I feel once Lawrie is gone the party boys culture will go and it will be totally different. These young kids look switched on and on a mission to make Saints Great again I feel. Hence why I think JDB may have been let go.

 

[possm]

I think the Couchmen - but in particular Toby - are going to be key leaders for us in 2026 and, if fit and firing, will lead the pack to a better season. I had been slightly pessimistic about our front row with the departure of Klemmer who I thought was clearly our best prop in 2025. But after some consideration I realised the main reason why Klemmer was our best prop: it's because Toby was moved to the backrow and then injured his shoulder. Prior to that, T Couchman was the dude.

The Couchmen just turned 22 a month or so ago. Based on numbers alone, the data suggests middle forwards are at the most productive (aka their peak) between the ages of 24-28, and not in their late 20's or early 30s as many people like to say. Despite being still well under that 24-28 age range, Toby's numbers were formidable for us...

* He was the busiest defender of all our forwards (excluding the hooker), averaging a huge 39.7 tackles a game, more than JDB with 33.52, and way more than the other props Klemmer (29.7) and Guler (26.5). The only prop in the entire NRL who averaged higher was Terrell May, with 42.63.
* With the ball in hand, Toby was a narrow 2nd among our middles for most average metres per game. 106.6, puts him behind JDB with 109.9, but he was well ahead of Klemmer (99.82), Sele (78.4), Lawrie (74.3) and Guler (67.5).
* Toby was our top middle forward for Post Contact Metres - averaging 43.15 per game. Jaydn Sua was the only forward better in this respect, with 46.94. Klemmer was close with 38.45, then its a long drop to JDB with 33.74 and way down to Guler with a pitiful 26.5
* In addition to this, he was also the leading offloader among our middle forwards with 1.23 a game - higher than JDB, Klemmer, Guler, and even Luch Leilua. Again, only Jaydn Sua had a higher number (1.94).

To me, the numbers confirm that, prior to injury, Toby was indeed our best prop. The main question heading into next year might be around his shoulder issues, but he had the reconstruction surgery in around July, so you'd expect the recovery to be fully complete by the start of pre-season training and he'd be ready to hit the ground running. I'm excited to see the form of a more seasoned Toby Couchman (and Ryan) in 2026. Particularly with his surprising offload numbers. Watching Joe Tapine in that Pacific Championships final offloading the Samoans to death basically has me feeling bullish about what a Couchman-Kerr combo (Josh Kerr 1.33 per game) can produce for us.

WE have the young, energetic, and enthusiastic forward however, we need to recrujit at least one hard-nosed maruee prop.

 

[coastiedragon]

Great players but they need more weight if they playing in the middle both around 98 kegs surely it has been addressed

 

[shiloh dc]

Without an Alpha prop the young forwards will be exposed to injuries not dissimilar to season 2025.

 

[denis preston]

Without an Alpha prop the young forwards will be exposed to injuries not dissimilar to season 2025.

how do you work that out ?

 

[shiloh dc]

how do you work that out ?

The Couchmen's at 100kg are much lighter than say a AFB or JWH which would be 120kg.

 

[SnowDragon]

Agree

the Couchmen are clinical in their defence and wrestle and finding metres in attack for fast play of the balls without being dominated in the oppositions wrestle

in particular Toby but both could end up similar levels in 2026

students of the game

equally Egan and Hamish

that is a big rush of 4 players that create a vibe of professionalism for such young guys

to think LKT and LPT and Nick T are not far behind is great momentum to changing the expectations among the whole team

top down the training standards and work rate of The King, Cookie, Holmes, Kyle, Sua and bottom up the 7 above are driving standards

that’s a serious influence of culture ie 11 players of the top17

Let’s go and let’s grow with a little more attacking class in Atkinson etc helping that cause

another addition or two in 2026 will help the fight but the tough part is other teams have improved their lists and we are relying on the development of our youth pushing up to NRL dominant levels

Did you intentionally leave out Jacob Halangahu? The tank is going to be crucial in this group. A different body shape and great attitude. Otherwise love your post.

 

[Bin Chicken]

Without an Alpha prop the young forwards will be exposed to injuries not dissimilar to season 2025.

Ask the cowboys who their alpha is. Rueben cotter ! He isn’t huge but his mindset is. Alpha doesn’t have to be big.

 

[shiloh dc]

Ask the cowboys who their alpha is. Rueben cotter ! He isn’t huge but his mindset is. Alpha doesn’t have to be big.

So you think the Couchmans can be our Alpha props then? Mentally for sure - physically No!

 

[Victoire]

how do you work that out ?

It must have something to do with the gravitational pull of a larger body. The way Jupiter attracts comets and asteroids?

 

[hook hook]

how do you work that out ?

He used John Mozs Chrystal ball

 

[VodkaSaint]

the way some of the boys have put on weight and fitness in the offseason I reckon we will surprised by the Couchmans

 

[BlackDuckSaint]

Being the Alpha of a pack is very much a mindset. But you need the physicality to back it up. You need some merkin in you, for lack of a better term.

The Couchmen, Egan, Loko, Halangahu and Stewart seem like really nice young men. But I think they lack the arrogance to be the top dogs. They may develop a mean streak, but not at the moment.