Barry...I keep hearing about how good the Couchman boys will be, but I'm yet to see any real evidence that they are anything apart from solid toilers, and I have seen quite a bit of them. Am I missing something??
Its a fair comment in terms of first grade performance, they do more than Lawrie and starting to approach frank/sele... their biggest perk is probably that their linespeed and tackling is fantastic... none of the lazy stuff... as a team we need to fix that line-speed.. once we drop off, we stop trying and teams roll over us.
But it is a work in progress:
o Pro: Both boys consistently run @ 200m in NSW Cup (none of the others go close), and 90% type tackle efficiency with decent minutes... i.e. they are statistically miles in front of the other guys in our reserve system.
o Pro: Tackling efficiency is as good as any other
o Pro: Endurance/Fitness is off the charts.. genetically blessed, good footwork and speed too.
o Con: If you were to compare them to Tonga or Alec Tui or even Coric.. you could definitely argue that the Couchies runs dont have the same 'off the back fence' impact that the others do.. they are a fraction light still... though statistically it works out about the same cause they manage to get in between defenders all the time (it caught me by surprise cause I thought they were average until others made me realise their stats and what was happening), but even in 1st grade... their stats r usually decent.
But given they turn 21 next week, literally a coupla kilos in the preseason to get just a little bit more.. into that 102-105kg range. .. they are getting close to what i think might end up being the prototype for the ideal modern forward (maybe like a Cam Murray without the ball skills), you have to imagine where they would be in say 3-4yrs time i.e. where Stefano is in his development, and hes considered young.
I think they are miles in front of where they should be for their age, and I think the ceiling could be anything.. but... there is no guarantee (there never is), and I dont think you could run an entire pack of Couchmans/Stewarts (leanish props), but I also dont think you could run an entire pack full of Tongas... I think you need some of both.. but I do understand the scepticism.. but I am like 80% confident that they will atleast be 10yr first graders.. whether they are elite/origin 1st graders.. still tbd.. but I think there is a chance.. but there is 100% a reason Flanno is chasing 1-2 established middles for 2025/2026.
