Toby Couchman’s journey from Dragons fan to star forward ahead of ‘special’ clash

These are the photos that show just how far Toby Couchman has come in his footy journey, with the prop going from a young fan taking pictures with Jack de Belin, to an emerging star in the front row in the Anzac Day blockbuster.

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.

Toby Couchman and his family at an Anzac Day game. Picture: Supplied

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.”

A young Toby Couchman with Jack de Belin on Anzac Day. Picture: Supplied

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.”

Ryan Couchman will miss the rest of the season after he suffered a serious knee injury in round one. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

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.”