NRL twins Toby and Ryan Couchman have pulled off the oldest trick in the book against the unsuspecting media scrum at St George Leagues Club on Friday.
Toby was put forward for media duties before his 50th NRL match against the Broncos on Sunday afternoon.
But his brother Ryan had a plan to mess with the awaiting journos.
In a cheeky trick that had been in the works for a while, instead of Toby fronting the media pack, it was Ryan.
And not one of the reporters in the room had a clue that they were asking questions to the wrong twin.
“Growing up did you ever think you’d reach this milestone?” the interview began, as no one clocked onto the switcheroo.
“Um idk growing up I think I would have been happy to play 1,” Ryan said, pretending he was Toby.
“But I have got confidence in myself and I thought it would be achievable.”
Ryan was barely able to hold back his laughter but still no one caught on, despite Toby standing at the back of the room.
“So your brother is here as well what is it like taking the field with him?” another reporter asked of Ryan.
“It’s real good,” he said, bursting into laughter.
You can watch the Couchman brothers’ brilliant switcheroo in the player above.
The reporter then appeared to think he might have got his stats mixed up. “Wait isn’t it your 50 game?” he asked.
A Dragons staffer then put them all out of their misery, stating “Nah, it’s his” as Toby walked to the microphone.
“Oh you’ve got us. Good job boys!” one reporter said.
The Dragons staff member then declared. “Ok so here is the real Toby Couchman.”
The ‘real Toby’ was then asked if their teammates could even tell them apart.
“Half the boys know pretty easily, and the other half have no idea. So they call us both Couchy so they don’t get it wrong,” he replied.
It is not the first time NRL players have tried to pull the old switcheroo.
A switching attempt by twins Jacob and Daniel Saifiti failed spectacularly back in 2024, when Jacob did the old switch with Daniel after being penalised for a late shot on Melbourne’s Tui Kamikamica during a pre-season game.
Daniel wandered up towards referee Belinda Sharpe as Jacob walked off the field.
But Sharpe didn’t fall for it for a second. “Where’s Jacob? Bring him back on” she said.
Daniel then sheepishly gestured to the sideline and called for his brother to come back on in a move reminiscent of the schoolboy being told off, before sending him to the sin bin.
Fox League commentator Andrew Voss was all over it and erupted with joy at what was unfolding.
“Oh, hang on, the old switcheroo,” Voss said in commentary.
“The brothers, oh, that’s so clever, Newcastle. I’m standing (and) applauding.
“You got him off the field, amazing. That’s a beautiful piece of play. That is rugby league.
“You can go back now and sit down, Belinda Sharpe has the last laugh, but they’ve done the switcheroo with the identical twins.
“A brilliant piece of rugby league right there.
“What a moment that is.”
