Parramatta Eels coach Jason Ryles has expressed concern for NRL players believing there is a higher chance of injury in 2026 because the game is so fast. This comes as Dragons star Ryan Couchman is facing a ban after a hip-drop on J’maine Hopgood.
The Eels lost forward Hopgood in the first-half when Dragons forward Couchman fell onto the back of his legs during a tackle. Hopgood limped off the field, while Couchman spent 10 minutes on the sideline for the illegal tackle. Although it was later revealed Hopgood had done his ACL and will now miss the remainder of the season in a huge blow for the club and the player.
Jason Ryles believes there is a higher chance of injury in 2026 because the game is so fast with Dragons star Ryan Couchman facing a long ban after a hip-drop on J’maine Hopgood (pictured left). (Images: AAP)
Couchman could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines as well with the Match Review Committee set to react to the tackle. But Eels coach Ryles feels players will be put in more vulnerable positions this season due to player fatigue with the game becoming even faster in 2026.
The increased number of six-agains in 2026 has resulted in more tries with players becoming increasingly tired with less breaks in the game. While there has been a number of blowout scores across the first three rounds, Ryles feels injuries could also increase.
Speaking after the 30-20 win over the Dragons at CommBank, Ryles claimed most players don’t mean to perform a hip-drop in the contest. Although he feels the NRL should prepare for more injuries if they continually speed up the game.
“It’s really disappointing … that’s his season,” Ryles said. “Those tackles, 99.99999 per cent of the time the boys don’t mean it. So it’s not intentional. But unfortunately you keep throwing fatigue into the game and you keep making them tireder and tireder and tireder and tireder, they happen. So that’s the reality. You’ve just got to practise and mitigate it as much as you can and hope that it doesn’t happen.”
A number of coaches have already talked out against the increased number of set restarts to start the season with fans also divided on whether it is good for the game. But a number of fans agreed agreed there could be more injuries heading forward.
Ryan Couchman’s calssy act for J’maine Hopgood
Unfortunately, it appears Hopgood is out for the season after just his second game of the season. He copped a one-game ban after the Melbourne Storm defeat for a high-tackle. He will now miss the remainder of the season with his knee injury.
Despite the tackle, the Dragons forward did visit Hopgood after the game. The Daily Telegraph claimed Couchman went into the Eels star after the full-time whistle to apologise to Hopgood after the tackle ended his season.
Dragons winless after three rounds
Too make matters worse for the Dragons, they will likely be without both Couchmans next week. Toby Couchman took a head knock and failed his HIA during the game. He will be expected to sit out next week. Shane Flanagan and the Dragons are winless after three games for the first time since 2020. Losses to the Bulldogs, Storm and the Eels leave the Dragons seeking their first win heading into a game
“We just beat ourselves to be really honest,” Dragons coach Flanagan said. “Every stat, we were in front. But we couldn’t win on the scoreboard and that’s all that matters.”
Ryan Couchman and Toby Couhcman could both be missing next week for the Dragons.
(Darrian Traynor via Getty Images)