Arncliffe Scots junior Nick Tsougranis last night became the fourth Dragons Academy graduate to make his NRL debut for the club this season.
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He joined Gerringong Lions duo Hamish Stewart (#283) and Dylan Egan (#285) and 2024 SG Ball title winner Loko Pasifiki Tonga (#287).
Tsougranis progressed through the junior representative system at St George playing two seasons of Harold Matthews Cup and two seasons of SG Ball.
He made his Jersey Flegg debut for St George Illawarra in 2022 and his Knock-On Effect NSW Cup debut in 2023 – the same year he earnt an Under 19s State of Origin nod for the Blues.
In 11 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup appearances this year, Tsougranis has tallied five tries, six try assists, 11 line breaks, 38 tackle breaks and 111 average run metres.
The soon-to-be 21-year-old looked right at home in his NRL introduction last night running for 162 metres from a team-high 19 carries with a pair of tackle breaks to go along with 20 tackles.
Stewart and Pasifiki Tonga have both remained in the first-grade line-up since their introductions to the top grade whilst Egan had been crafting a standout rookie campaign before unfortunately suffering a season-ending knee injury.
