James Graham

[BradfordBull]

What are your5 thoughts on this guy so far into the season.

From the games I have seen he looks like he is being held back and not able to play to his potential.

 

[The Showstopper]

As a non bulldog fan, to me he has been found out in a far tougher competition. He is average. Burgess when fit is the best player England has produced in 30 years.

 

[BradfordBull]

I disagree, I dont think he is being allowed to play his normal game.

He is not being used correctly by Des Hasler. Graham is a different player to Burgess he will take more hit up's make more tackles and meters than anyone else when allowed to play his normal game.

 

[Fast Eddie]

As a non bulldog fan, to me he has been found out in a far tougher competition. He is average. Burgess when fit is the best player England has produced in 30 years.

:lol: haven't watched many Test matches in the last 5 years I take it.

 

[Timmah]

Been going great guns, don't know what games you lot are watching.

Plenty of minutes, big engine, great go forward.

 

[MatthewA]

Averages 54 minutes a match for 14 runs, 106m and 33 tackles. Going very well for his first year in the NRL.

Once he really gets into it those numbers will increase and he'll go even better.

 

[dogslife]

He's got a very underrated short passing game that hasn't been utilised enough I don't think. Other than that his workload is higher than most starting props in the game. Would be great to see him start alongside Tolman with Kasiano off the bench

 

[gUt]

Looks like he's going ok to me but the coach has no reason to shift either of the starting props. I think the 3 of them are all going well. Having two big backrowers in Pritchard and Eastwood really balances out the Dogs pack.

 

[Bulldog Force]

He's been going really well as far as I can see. That's him coming off the bench though. I would love to see what he offers from a starting position... can't see that happening anytime soon though. Kasiano and Tolman are great guns as the starting props.

 

[Packy]

He's going fine. I don't know what people expect. He makes tackles, gets involved. He'll only get better and better as the year goes on. Will be starting next year if not before.

 

[Miller was a legend]

He has been very slippery so far this season.

 

[MatthewA]

Zing! I see what you did there.

 

[LeagueXIII]

As a non bulldog fan, to me he has been found out in a far tougher competition. He is average. Burgess when fit is the best player England has produced in 30 years.

I guess you've never heard of Ellery Hanley?

 

[Perth Red]

He should be starting and playing the first 30mins then off and play the last 30mins. In Sl he would regularly play 70+mins a game.

 

[Bulldog Force]

He should be starting and playing the first 30mins then off and play the last 30mins. In Sl he would regularly play 70+mins a game.

Yeah but he probably needs to adjust to the NRL playing style, and also adjust to playing games in 20-25 degrees as opposed to near 0. Also Kasiano and Tolman have not done anything wrong to warrant being dropped. I guess the depth is a positive thing for us.

 

[Johnny_L_O]

Yeah, it's like cold for one month of the season in SL. March/April onward its like 15-25 so it's pretty similar. Only place it's different is Queensland and what's that, 2-3 games a year? I agree with the posts above re being held back. He ran Saints pack for the past 5 years and 14 hit ups is pretty average for him. In SL (where the forwards are still pretty good) he used to take 20+ hit ups a game and make around 180 m. He will build into it though and anyone writing him off at this early stage of his new career is a pleb :lol:

 

[Johnny_L_O]

21 hit ups, 172 metres, 35 tackles and a line break in 59 mins today. Not a bad effort

 

[The Clan]

21 hit ups, 172 metres, 35 tackles and a line break in 59 mins today. Not a bad effort

And the Dogs visibly lifted when Graham came onto the field, the first thing Graham did was a superb tip on then the Dogs did another and another which is what got them their momentum and changed the game.

I agree to some extent with the OP, Graham is not firing or not being allowed to fire on al cylinders. When he does he'll go up another level or two

 

[Fast Eddie]

He's one of the better forwards going round without a doubt. Can't believe some people doubted he would be any good in the NRL, obviously they don't watch Test matches.