The Arncliffe Scots have proven an essential rugby league nursery over a number of years with Nick Tsougranis the latest young gun that the club has delivered to the Dragons.
Tsougranis’ first taste of rugby league came as a four-year-old at Arncliffe – his local club and the same club his father likes to remind him he won a premiership with just a few years prior.
Once old enough, he filtered into St George’s development system progressing through to Harold Matthews Cup and SG Ball – two sides for which he was named captain – and eventually Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup.
“I’m a St George junior through and through,” Tsougranis said.
“I was born at St George Hospital. I played all my junior footy at the Arncliffe Scots. My dad’s a Dragons tragic, so I had no choice.”
Tsougranis earnt his first opportunity to train with the club he grew up supporting throughout the 2024 preseason, but the teenager was dealt some harsh learnings early.
“The boys were real welcoming, but I guess last year for me was a bit of a tough one,” he said.
“I started the preseason and got about four weeks in and did my back. I didn’t end up playing until about Round 6. I also had surgery on my hand and had a minor calf strain… It was more learning about myself, coming back from adversity and I’ve tried to take that into this year now. I’m a lot better with my prep, my prep for training, better sleep, doing my hardest to eat better, stretching, all that sort of stuff, just so I’m ready for training and I can avoid injury.”
It was more learning about myself, coming back from adversity and I’ve tried to take that into this year now. I’m a lot better with my prep, my prep for training, better sleep, doing my hardest to eat better, stretching, all that sort of stuff, just so I’m ready for training and I can avoid injury.
Tsougranis however has had the opportunity to hit the ground running this summer in his second preseason slog under the guidance of Shane Flanagan with the 20-year-old eyeing a steadier campaign having since been promoted to the club’s development list.
“The body’s good, it’s been pretty tough. Obviously, that’s preseason. It’s there to challenge us, but I’m feeling fit, feeling strong,” he said.
“I’m excited to get into footy. I’m excited for Round 1… I definitely feel more comfortable around the boys. The older back rowers have been good. Ray’s (Faitala-Mariner) been really good for me, so has Luch (Leilua). Jaydn Su’A as well, I’ll ask him for some tips and stuff like that. Even guys like Goat – Tommy Eisenhuth – have been really good after video and stuff, he knows everything. It’s just good to chat with him about stuff, see what I could do differently or do better next time and just try to pick his brain a bit.”
Perhaps Tsougranis’ biggest footballing milestone up to this point was his first taste of rep footy in 2023 when he helped NSW’s Under 19s State of Origin side to a dominant victory.
“At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t even thinking of it, to be honest,” he said.
“Growing up, all those rep sides, I’d never really been picked or anything like that. That was kind of my first experience in a camp and rep team like that. I was grateful because the way they announced it was pretty cool. I was playing against Newtown at Henson Park and then Timmo (Shaun Timmins) – who was one of the coaches – and Willie [Talau] came across and heaps of my family were there, and they told my whole family and me at the same time, so it was an unreal experience. It was just a massive privilege, and I learnt a lot during that camp.”
There’s another rep jumper however that Tsougranis has his eyes on – the blue and white of Greece – to honour his four grandparents who hail from the islands of Kos and Kalymnos respectively.
Greece made history when they made their Rugby League World Cup debut in the UK in 2022 just months after the sport attained government recognition back in Greece.
They will be facing off against the United States at the end of the month in Las Vegas, but Tsougranis will have to wait a little longer for his international debut with club commitments coming first at this point of the preseason.
“I can’t wait to play for Greece,” Tsougranis said.
“I’ve been speaking to them and it’s more a matter of just finding a time where I can play. It’s a bit hard; I can’t go play now, but once I get that opportunity, I’ll take it with both hands for sure… The World Cup was massive. The Australian and Greek community were just loving it. A lot of them love footy and we don’t get to see much of our national team. But now that it’s on the rise, they're loving it.”
Once I get that opportunity, I’ll take it with both hands for sure… The World Cup was massive. The Australian and Greek community were just loving it. A lot of them love footy and we don’t get to see much of our national team. But now that it’s on the rise, they're loving it.
Tsougranis’ focus is instead on making the most of his upcoming campaign and adding to his tally of eight NSW Cup outings.
“My goal is to get some Cup games under my belt, playing against men. But really, whether I’m playing Cup or Flegg, I just want to play consistent footy,” he said.
“I guess with last year’s disruptions, it was pretty hard for me being in one week, out the other. I just want to play consistent footy at a quality that I’m happy with… That first year in Cup, it was pretty tough. The physicality is what I noticed most. I started in SG Ball and kind of went up into Cup. It was a bit of an adjustment, but I enjoyed it. It was just fun. I was having fun with the older boys, getting to know them, because I hadn’t done any full-time training yet, so it was just good to learn off them.”
