The Couchman twins on injuries, the Flanagan revolution, and the Penrith juggernaut
Kenty is joined for the latest episode of Kenty Prime Time by Dragons rising stars Ryan and Toby Couchman. The identical twins open up about the mental toll of long-term injuries, their transition from surf sports to the NRL, and how Shane Flanagan is systematically rebuilding the culture at St George Illawarra.
The mental toll of the rehab room
With both brothers currently sidelined—Ryan recovering from an ACL tear and Toby from shoulder surgery—the conversation turned to the frustration of watching the team from the sidelines. Ryan reflected on the difficulty of being a spectator on game day.
"It was that tough feeling on game day where you watch the boys whether win or lose you couldn't be a part of it, that was the toughest thing for me,” Ryan Couchman said.
Focusing on footy over the surf
Coming from an elite sporting lineage related to Iron Man legends Darren and Dean Mercer, the twins made a conscious choice at a young age to ditch the beach for the footy field. Toby explained that a career in the NRL required total commitment.
"I suppose when you know what you want to do you got to go all in on it," Toby Couchman said.
The Shane Flanagan "ruthlessness"
Kenty and the twins discussed the immediate impact Shane Flanagan has had since taking the reins at the Dragons. Ryan highlighted the coach's uncompromising competitive nature and how it has shifted the team's internal standards.
"He's pretty ruthless and and that's that's what we need he's he's ultra competitive and and he wants to win,”he said.
Systematic changes and the Dean Young influence
Toby detailed the specific tactical shifts brought in by the coaching staff, particularly assistant Dean Young. He noted that the team now operates with a much clearer understanding of their defensive roles.
"Edges know when they need to jam when they need to slide off and he sets them principles."
Learning the "habit of winning"
Kenty noted that bringing young players into a losing environment can be damaging to their development. Ryan agreed, emphasizing that with the arrival of senior leaders like Damien Cook and Valentine Holmes, the squad's expectations have shifted.
"Everyone a common go it's common amongst our group now that yeah we want to win and we expect to win."
The Penrith "juggernaut" and the fatigue factor
Turning their attention to the finals series, the twins analyzed why the Penrith Panthers remain the benchmark. Ryan pointed out that Penrith’s dominance comes from their ability to suffocate teams until they eventually break.
"They just put the opposition under so much fatigue and and when you're under that much fatigue it's it's bound to happen someone's not going to show up."
Finals Predictions: Can anyone stop the Premiers?
While the twins discussed the threats posed by the Sharks and Raiders, they admitted that beating the three-time premiers requires a near-perfect performance. Ryan summed up the challenge facing any team that comes up against the mountain men.
"To beat them you need to be on like on your on your game like almost close to your best game as a team."
Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
