Daniel Atkinson dropped for Lyhkan King-Togia in Dragons’ showdown with Dolphins

St George Illawarra have extended the contracts of promising forwards Toby and Ryan Couchman until the end of 2030.

The twin brothers, who have come through the Dragons pathways systems, were previously contracted until the end of 2027. Their decision to recommit is a vote of confidence in head coach Dean Young, who was recently appointed on a full-time basis.

“I love this club,” Ryan said. “Toby and I grew up supporting the Dragons, and it means a lot to us to represent our local team. We’re stoked to show other young players coming through the region what is possible.

“It’s been a challenging season, but you can feel the energy and improvement across the club. We understand the responsibility we have as part of where this club is heading, and we are excited to play our role.”

Toby said the opportunity to remain a Dragon long-term was an easy decision.

“This is our home, so it’s unreal to be extending here,” Toby said. “I believe strongly in what we are building under Dean Young, and we’re both excited about the opportunity to help push this club back towards where it belongs.

“We know there is plenty of hard work ahead of us, but that is something we want to be part of.”

The retention of the brothers comes after a recruitment spree that has landed Scott Drinkwater, Keaon Koloamatangi, Kodi Nikorima, Luke Metcalf, Connor Watson and Phillip Sami.

“Ryan and Toby compete relentlessly. They’re consistent, disciplined, and that’s exactly what I value as a coach,” Young said. “I know how much these men care about the club, and they’ll play a huge role in helping us get to where we want to go.”

Why Dragons axed five-eighth Atkinson for Dolphins clash

Christian Nicolussi

Daniel Atkinson’s fight to retain the St George Illawarra No.6 jersey has arrived more than six months early after the Dragons’ off-season recruit was dumped from the starting five-eighth role for Friday’s clash against the Dolphins.

The Dragons signed playmaker Kodi Nikorima to a two-year deal on Wednesday. On Thursday, Atkinson was dropped to the extended bench for the first time this year and replaced by Lyhkan King-Togia.

Atkinson, 25, was the Dragons’ biggest off-season purchase, but he has struggled to make an impact, and coach Dean Young has opted for 21-year-old King-Togia instead. Moses Suli, who was named in the No.18 jersey, will start in the centres at the expense of Mat Feagai at WIN Stadium.

“We let in two tries against the Warriors on our right edge, and we let in four tries against the Titans,” Young said.

“We know what Lyhkan brings with the ball – we need him to work hard defensively, and he gets his opportunity on Friday.”

The Dragons have signed Nikorima, fellow playmaker Luke Metcalf, fullback Scott Drinkwater and prop Keaon Koloamatangi on multi-year deals, while Connor Watson will spend a season at the club on his way to the PNG Chiefs in 2028.

Atkinson was only a couple of years ago being groomed to take over from Will Kennedy at fullback at Cronulla, and one of the big talking points among fans this summer will be where he slots into the side with all the signings.

When asked what the recruitment drive meant for Atkinson and halfback Kyle Flanagan, Young said: “What it means is we have good depth. I won’t dive into our recruitment strategy right now. At the moment we’ve got a panel that consists of [recruitment boss] Daniel Anderson, [CEO] Tim Watsford, [football operations boss] Ben Creagh and myself, and we have recruitment meetings every fortnight.

“Things change really quickly in this game, as you know. As a club, we thought it was a great opportunity to bring in someone like Kodi with his skill set to improve our attack … we just have to focus on the rest of the year now.”

Pressed on working with Atkinson, Young said: “He’s a competitor, he’s a great person, great trainer, he has a big, long kick on him – he’s done well for us this year at different stages, and he knows what he needs to work on, too.”

The Dolphins have also made changes in the halves. Coach Kristian Woolf confirmed Isaiya Katoa will return from a broken wrist, despite being named in the No.22 jersey.

“He convinced us through the week he’s right to go, he’s done everything, and he’s been cleared medically,” Woolf said. “He’s a massive boost for us, he’s a class player and he’s a leader for us.”

Woolf and Young have worked together with Tonga since 2019. Young confirmed he will step down from Woolf’s staff for the World Cup at the end of the year to focus on the Dragons.

Even though the Dragons will collect the first wooden spoon in the joint venture’s history, the form of Hamish Stewart and Ryan and Toby Couchman has been a positive. With a number of injuries to Australian players, Young said Stewart would not look out of place in a Kangaroos jersey at the World Cup.

Injuries to back row incumbents Angus Crichton and Hudson Young pave the way for the likes of Penrith’s Liam Martin, South Sydney’s Cameron Murray and Canterbury’s Jacob Preston to join Kevin Walters’ Australia squad. But Young believes Stewart, 21, would not disappoint.

“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough, that’s been proven over time, and Hamish Stewart is an elite player,” Young said.

“He’s got a lot to learn, but to give you an insight of how talented he is, he never played back row until this year when I put him there.

“I liked the way he moved defensively, and for the edges to defend well, you need four defenders to move well, and he moves really well.

“He’ll end up being a ball-playing lock forward, but at the moment, but at his age, playing in the edge, it will be beneficial for him.

“When you take squads away for tours and [World Cups], you need to make sure you have flexibility, and he definitely covers lock and back row. He’s got an elite skill set, and his work rate is outstanding.”

Roosters veteran prepared to entertain Super League move

Christian Nicolussi

Winger Daniel Tupou is leaning towards playing one more year with the Sydney Roosters, but should the Bondi club not accommodate him, he is prepared to pursue a two-year deal in the Super League.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson on Tuesday confirmed Tupou would return for the NRL finals after dislocating his shoulder last Friday night against the Knights – but no call had been made about next year.

Tupou’s preference would be to play a 16th season in the red, white and blue. But the 35-year-old met his manager Sam Ayoub on Monday who informed him several English Super League clubs had expressed interest in him.

The chance to sign a two-year deal has appeal, while Tupou also knows the Super League would be less physically demanding.

Tupou remains one of the best aerial threats in the game, and bagged a hat-trick in his 300th milestone match against the Eels earlier this month. The Super League is known for its attacking brand of football, which would suit the Tongan international.

Mark Nawaqanitawase will leave the Roosters at the end of the season to return to rugby, and should Tupou also try his luck abroad, the Roosters have plenty of depth, including Cody Ramsey, Tommy Talau, Billy Smith, Manly recruit Reuben Garrick, and Tom Rodwell. They also have Rex Bassingthwaighte who is being groomed to be James Tedesco’s No. 1 successor, with the club happy to give their future fullbacks time on the wing at the start of their careers.

Tupou has never wanted any fuss made about his achievements, and played down the extent of his injury early in the second half in Newcastle last week.

Tedesco said on Sunday: “The other night he laid on the floor and said, with no emotion, ‘My shoulder’s out’. That was it.

“We all went up to him, but he was his usual calm self. They popped it back in, he was still out there, and I started to think he was going to keep playing, but they took him off.

“Players get older and you expect a bit of a dip [in form], but that’s not the case with ‘Toops’ – he goes about his business with no fuss and we have so much confidence and belief when he’s out there.”

The setback means Tupou, who has played 302 matches for the club, is no chance to overtake Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as the most-capped Rooster should this year be his last.

Waerea-Hargreaves played 310 games, and with the Roosters to play six regular season games, and potentially up to three finals, Tupou could have moved to 311.

Robinson confirmed Tupou would return for the finals, and the shoulder injury would sideline him between four and six weeks. As for his future, Robinson said: “I’d say it’d be in the next two to three weeks, we’ll know where ‘Toops’ is at and where we’re at.”

Young weighs up Raiders’ deal

Dan Walsh

Canberra have offered Hudson Young a multimillion-dollar, three-year extension as his Raiders teammate Morgan Smithies will join Perth next season.

The Raiders have progressed negotiations with Young after he was sidelined with a season-ending Achilles injury last weekend, and are gunning to keep their star NSW back-rower off the open market on November 1.

A three-year deal would keep Young in the nation’s capital until the end of 2030. With the NRL’s salary cap forecast to rise to at least $15 million from 2028, Young’s total extension is expected to be worth around $3 million and make him one of the game’s best-paid back-rowers.

Along with Penrith enforcer and Blues teammate Liam Martin, Young is the most accomplished edge forward coming off-contract in 2027.

Young’s Achilles rupture came as a cruel blow to Canberra’s late-season finals charge given the 28-year-old’s superb Origin campaign and status as a nailed-on World Cup starter for the Kangaroos.

Canterbury’s Jacob Preston (24), Wests Tigers’ Samuela Fainu (22) and the Dolphins’ recent Queensland Origin debutant Kuikefu Finefeuiaki (22) represent the next crop of back-rowers yet to be tied down long-term, though the Tigers’ plans to present Fainu with an upgraded deal were a significant factor in Jarome Luai being released early to join Parramatta next year.

Martin’s agent will meet with the Panthers this week as the club works through its star-studded off-contract list, with co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo the club’s retention priorities.

Martin and Brian To’o have both been linked to the incoming PNG Chiefs franchise, and while Penrith will be given first and last rights on Martin’s future, a request for permission to negotiate early with rival clubs hasn’t been ruled out, either.

Teammate Moses Leota was granted a brief window to talk to rivals by the Panthers last month to get an idea of his market value.

Melbourne have also given five-eighth Cameron Munster permission to negotiate specifically with PNG after undergoing minor knee surgery, though the Storm have tabled a two-year extension for 2028-29 at a reduced rate from his estimated $1.25 million salary.

The Chiefs are unlikely to present their own offer until November 1, or when there is clarity around Cleary’s future given he is their preferred playmaking target.

Smithies, meanwhile, has agreed to terms on a three-year offer from Perth. The 25-year-old had been deep in negotiations with Canberra earlier this year before the club was told his preference was to move back to the UK and resume his English Super League career.

Perth’s offer proved too good for Smithies to refuse, but the English international will leave the Raiders on good terms despite the change of plans.

The Bears have also targeted Eels co-captain Junior Paulo as a potential captaincy option for inaugural coach Mal Meninga next season, with a two-year offer expected to be taken up by the veteran prop this week.

Perth have slowly but surely built a robust pack with Penrith’s Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen, Cronulla utility Siosifa Talakai and Bulldogs back-rower Josh Curran their most notable signings up front.

The Bears have ample salary cap space to add a marquee spine player given Storm utility Tyran Wishart headlines their playmaking options for 2027.