St George Illawarra's Toby Couchman wants to lead the young Dragons pack to a brighter future and his top shelf display in his 50th NRL match bodes well.
Couchman and opposing Brisbane prop Payne Haas were the best forwards on the field in a classic battle but it was the Red V that won 30-26 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday to break a 15-game losing streak.
Aside from running for 215m, Couchman made 41 tackles. The former Thirroul Butchers junior's joy over win was palpable, but he also busted the myth that the Dragons weren't putting in behind the scenes.
"We've been working our arse off at training. Every week we show up, we rip in, that's the whole team, that's the coaches," he said.
"We're not taking the piss. It's not like some people say.
"We're ripping in every day and that's what makes it so hard losing, because we're going into every game thinking we can win if we play our footy.
"It's been a rocky start to the season, and the club deserves better, so to get a win, hopefully it's the first of many."
The fiery prop said caretaker coach Dean Young had "instilled a lot of belief" and the side had been building towards the breakthrough win after improved displays against Penrith and the Warriors,
"It's so good and it's such a relief because of how hard the season has been," he said.
"I'm not going to hide away from that."
Toby and twin brother Ryan, who plays lock, are 22. Starting prop Loko Pasifiki Tonga and second-row pairing Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart are all just 21.
To a man, they combined against the Broncos to show they have what it takes to lay the platform for more wins.
"I never want to let anyone down and I know the boys, the young forwards, I love playing with them," Couchman said.
"My brother obviously, love playing with him.
"Hamish, Dylan, I've played with them growing up a bit, they just work their arse off.
"Now Loko is in there and he's a beast. It's good having him out there too."
Couchman made the point that, given the season the Dragons have had, he can only afford to look at the week ahead.
But combine the young pack alone with 2027 arrivals such as NSW duo Connor Watson and Keaon Koloamantagi, North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater, Warriors playmaker Luke Metcalf and Gold Coast try whiz Phil Sami and there's a lot to like about the Red V's future.
"Obviously the season has been hard this year – so it's hard to look too far forward and focus on that - but when you really think about it, there is a possibility here that we could do something big," Couchman said.
"I definitely want to be a part of it."
Couchman acquitted himself well in the battle with the phenomenal Haas, who ran for 281m on return from a six-week injury lay-off.
"When he came onto the scene, I loved watching him," he said.
"He's an amazing player and we didn't handle him too well, but it is pretty cool going up against someone like that."
