The Dragons have been dealt a huge blow with promising young forward Toby Couchman ruled out for the rest of the 2025 NRL season.
Couchman’s injury struggles have lingered longer than first expected, and after further medical assessment, the club has confirmed the rising star won’t feature again this year and will undergo shoulder reconstruction surgery.
It’s a cruel end to what was shaping as a key development season for the 21-year-old, who had been earmarked as a long-term fixture in the Dragons forward pack and earned a big role off his tremendous form.
Having debuted in 2023, Couchman had gradually worked his way into the top grade rotation and was viewed as one of the club’s most promising forwards.
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His work ethic, mobility, and ability to cover multiple roles in the pack made him a valuable option for coach Shane Flanagan, who now faces further challenges to his already stretched forward depth.
With injuries to key personnel and inconsistent form plaguing the Red V, the absence of Couchman leaves a noticeable hole in a squad still searching for stability only a week after forward Jaydn Su'a was also ruled out for the year.
It’s a frustrating setback for the young forward, who had been making steady progress and was considered a strong candidate to become part of the club’s forward core in the years ahead.
Couchman is expected to make a full recovery and will aim to return fully fit for the start of the 2026 pre-season.
For now, the Dragons will need to dig into their depth and rely on other young forwards to fill the void left by one of their most promising local talents.