What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

James Graham workhorse

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,334
James Graham to celebrate 400-game milestone for St George Illawarra Dragons against Gold Coast at Kogarah
  • Local Sport
    r147_0_2784_1504_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

    James Graham will play his 400th first grade game at Kogarah on Saturday. Picture: Adam McLean
    Paul McGregor believes James Graham will leave a legacy at the Dragons as the Englishman prepares for his 400th first grade game.

    St George Illawarra host Gold Coast at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium looking to condemn the Titans to the wooden spoon and give themselves some breathing space near the bottom of the table.

    The match will be Graham's 400th first grade game. He made his Super League debut for St Helens in 2003 where he went on to play 224 games.

    Graham then moved to Australia and made another 135 NRL appearances for Canterbury.

    He joined St George Illawarra at the start of last season, with Saturday's game against the Titans Graham's 41st in the red V.

    Graham has also played 45 Tests for England and Great Britain, with Dragons coach McGregor labeling the 33-year-old as a once-in-a-generation player.

    "He'll tell you it's only one more than 399 [first grade games] but we all know it's a lot more than that. It's a great honour," McGregor said.

    "A person that he just inspires others. Everyone that plays rugby league has got a competitive nature and a good footy IQ and certainly a high threshold for pain. But he just takes all that to another level.

    "He just helps people around him as well. He's a gentleman. He's a once-in-a-generation player. He's a great person to have involved in the club and he'll leave a legacy here.

    "That's got him through a lot of the years, his passion and want to fight for every inch. It's important when you've got leaders of your club that do that and drive others.

    "It's a year we haven't wanted but he has not stopped fighting. [Saturday] is a special day for him."

    It will also be a special day for Dragons centre Euan Aitken who will play his 100th NRL game.

    Jackson Ford has been named to make his first grade debut for the Dragons off the bench.




    https://www.theleader.com.au/story/...ebrate-400-game-milestone-at-kogarah/?cs=1633
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
34,334
grahamj_2nh_8318.jpg



DRAGONS


Graham pays tribute to parents after surprise visit for 400th
Author
Brad Walter NRL.com Senior Reporter
Timestamp
Sat 10 Aug 2019, 07:37 PM
walterbrad-head.png

James Graham paid tribute to his parents after they surprised him by flying from England to attend his emotion-charged 400th premiership at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday.

Graham, who began his career with St Helens in Super League 16 years ago, was the centre of attention as the Dragons celebrated his milestone with a 40-28 defeat of the Titans.

The English forward admitted he was close to tears before kick-off as he saw his wife and children in the tunnel.

Tributes from former and current team-mates were played on the big screen and an England flag with the names of every player he’d play alongside written into the cross of Saint George was pinned to a wall in the home dressing room.

On each of the four sides of the red cross was the location of one of the three clubs Graham has played for, Eccleston (St Helens), Belmore (Canterbury) and Kogarah (St George Illawarra), and his birthplace, Maghull.

However, he had no sense before their arrival that his parents, John and Dianne, were also planning to be on hand to witness the Dragons end a five-match losing streak on a special occasion for their son.

grahamj-mum_2nh_8165.jpg

James Graham's parents John and Dianne at Jubilee on Saturday. :copyright:Nathan Hopkins/NRL Photos
“I was very, very surprised,” Graham said. “I spoke to my mum on Tuesday or Wednesday and she said, ‘good luck’ and all this, and I said, ‘if you are thinking of coming I will kill you’. She just laughed it off and I thought that was it.

“There are lots of stories in rugby league, and it is not just with me, but my parents made a big commitment and a big sacrifice to the family to get me to training and to get me to games from 11 years of age, four nights a week and Saturdays and Sundays.

“They did that not because they wanted to see me play in the NRL, but because they saw that one of their sons was passionate about something.”

Graham’s brother, sister-in-law and their two children were also at the match, and the 33-year-old said afterwards that his siblings had also had to make sacrifices for him to play at the level he did, which included representing England Under 16s.

“A lot of the time dad was busy ferrying me around the north-west of England so they missed out on some dad-time and mum had to pick up the pieces sometimes when we were travelling a lot,” he said.



Match Highlights: Dragons v Titans

“It has been quite overwhelming. I am quite an emotional character so when I was going out in the tunnel and I saw my missus and two kids I had to look down. I don’t even know why, I see them every day. It is a weird thing that emotion can sometimes overtake you.”

Dragons players players were relieved that they were able to celebrate Graham’s 400th premiership appearance, centre Euan Aitken’s 100th NRL match and Jackson Ford’s debut with a win.

Captain Gareth Widdop revealed that team-mates used Graham’s achievement to spur themselves on after the Titans fought back to trail 36-28 with 14 minutes remaining in the match.

“Obviously we spoke about turning up today for a number of reasons and not letting those blokes down,” Widdop said.



Graham addresses crowd, throws shade at Latimore

“It was really important, for a bloke who guys out there every weekend and gets bashed pillar to post but turns up – you know what you are going to get from him – you need to reward him for what he has done all year and what he has done his whole career.

“He has played with some heart and some courage and it is just pleasing to get that win. There was a lot to play for today. He has been great for the game of rugby league in general and he is a good mate of mine so I was so pleased we could get the win for him.”

Dragons coach Paul McGregor said Graham would leave a legacy at the club with his work ethic after his career is finished, which won’t be until at least after next season as he has taken up an option in his contract.

“It’s just the effort areas around the game that he brings, and he doesn’t bring it in any other way except through his effort and grit and perseverance," McGregor said.

"If you look at any pictures of his career, he's always that bloke coming from the inside from somewhere to stop that try or push that person into the corner."

Sharks v Dragons
What will be the result of their round 22 clash?

Sharks v Dragons What will be the result of their round 22 clash?
  • Sharks 1-10
    0%
  • Sharks 11+
    0%
  • Dragons 1-10
    0%
  • Dragons 11+
    0%

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/201...te-to-parents-after-surprise-visit-for-400th/
 

Dragon David

First Grade
Messages
9,322
Well done James. You've played very tough but very fair over the years for St Helens, Bulldogs, Dragons and England. May you continue to do so and remain healthy for next year.

Cheers!
 

thebigredv

First Grade
Messages
5,407
That doesn't make sense ! If they were sacked first they couldn't sack anyone then could they !!😂😂

Yes but I'm sure you catch my drift!
In a perfect world, if the members had the ability, they would have put a broom through the entire board, the MIA CEO and most of the playing and coaching staff.

I took my daughter to the circus the other day. I fail to see a difference with how the club is run.

In all seriousness, the fact we have a rift at board level should tell us all we need to know and reflects directly to what we see on the field.
 

Latest posts

Top