What's new
By:
Advanced search…
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.

D

dungay dragon

Juniors
Messages
1,321
mickeylane said:
Honestly I would make him captain - he's a natural born leader - would tAke pressure off everyone to play their natural game
Click to expand...
As a courtesy to Graham and Widdop , both should be asked are they comfortable in the Captains roll.?? Some chatter out of belmore suggested he may not have been ..Give him free reign to be the fearsome forward he used to be. I dont believe Widdop is happy as Captain. I think you will see a much more relaxed pivot in that case...
The main playing group should also have some input into the decision
JDB would make an excellent skipper and i dont beleive it would have any undue effect on his on field play...Joel Thompson would also come into consideration...
BUT FIRST ..LETS SIGN A TRULY PROFESSIONAL FIRST GRADE COACH....
 
D

Dragonforlife

Juniors
Messages
13
Saint_JimmyG said:
As Canterbury's season is over, wouldn't Graham's contract be expired as of full time last Sunday?
Click to expand...
I think he is still contracted till the end of 2018 with the Bullgrubs. They need to release him due to being over salary cap. Hopefully offiicial signing with Red V by the end of week. Fingers crossed.
 
Last edited:
Dragons 09

Dragons 09

Juniors
Messages
1,762
Saint_JimmyG said:
As Canterbury's season is over, wouldn't Graham's contract be expired as of full time last Sunday?
Click to expand...

I think he's still contracted to the Dog's until the grand final is over Jimmy. I seem to remember Benji had contractual commitments with us right up until the G/F. It wasn't until after the G/F that he went on social media and formally said his thank you's his goodbye's.

I think the November 1 date that others refer to is in relation to when a player is "officially" on the market. Therefore, if a player is coming off contract at the end of the 2018 season, then that player is "officially" on the market and other clubs are cleared to approach and negotiate with them as at November 1st 2017.

Of course, i could be wrong, but that is my understanding of how it works.
 
G

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,973
Canterbury Bulldogs captain James Graham announces St George Illawarra Dragons agreement
Andrew Parkinson
6 Sep 2017, 9:41 a.m.
r90_261_3290_1978_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg


Changing clubs: Canterbury Bulldogs captain James Graham has announced he will join St George Illawarra from next season. Picture: Daniel Munoz/AAP Image


He helped end St George Illawarra’s season on Sunday. But James Graham will be wearing the red V in 2018.

It may have been a deflating weekend for Dragons fans but Graham has provided a lift, with the Canterbury captain confirming he will join St George Illawarra from next season.

Graham confirmed on Tuesday night he had verbally agreed to an offer late last week to join St George Illawarra for three years, with the Dragons finally ending their search to replace Russell Packer after he joined the Wests Tigers.

"I think it's the best move for myself and for both clubs, too," Graham told Fox Sports' NRL 360 program.

"At the age I'm at, that will probably take me to the end of my NRL career. I'm really excited for what's ahead."

Canterbury allowed Graham to leave to help alleviate serious salary cap pressure for next season, with the Bulldogs still trying to get under the $9.4million cap.

The 31-year-old Englishman helped Canterbury end St George Illawarra’s finals hopes on Sunday in his last game as a Bulldog. Graham said he told his teammates in the sheds after full-time that he was leaving Canterbury.

Graham will bring plenty of experience to St George Illawarra’s pack having played in the 2012 and 2014 grand finals with Canterbury in his five years at the club.

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/4905069/graham-confirms-dragons-agreement/?cs=3833
 
D

dragonssamy61

First Grade
Messages
5,549
dungay dragon said:
As a courtesy to Graham and Widdop , both should be asked are they comfortable in the Captains roll.?? Some chatter out of belmore suggested he may not have been ..Give him free reign to be the fearsome forward he used to be. I dont believe Widdop is happy as Captain. I think you will see a much more relaxed pivot in that case...
The main playing group should also have some input into the decision
JDB would make an excellent skipper and i dont beleive it would have any undue effect on his on field play...Joel Thompson would also come into consideration...
BUT FIRST ..LETS SIGN A TRULY PROFESSIONAL FIRST GRADE COACH....
Click to expand...

Dungay
I agree with what you have said.
I know that widdop hates talking to the media as he is a quiet guy while a guy like graham ( if he really wants to be captain ) would be good .
But from what I see JDB and tommo both handle it very well
 
G

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,973
James Graham confirms St George Illawarra Dragons NRL move
Scott Bailey
6 Sep 2017, 8:28 a.m.
r0_244_4584_3076_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg


Change: James Graham. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Munoz


James Graham will move to St George Illawarra next season on a three-year deal.

The Canterbury captain on Tuesday night confirmed the worst-kept secret in the NRL, revealing he had verbally agreed to an offer late last week from the Dragons.

"I think it's the best move for myself and for both clubs, too," Graham told Fox Sports' NRL 360 program.

"At the age I'm at, that will probably take me to the end of my NRL career. I'm really excited for what's ahead."

Graham's departure will help alleviate intense salary-cap pressure on the Bulldogs for next season.

Canterbury are still attempting to get under next year's $9.4 million figure, to ensure the contracts of new arrivals Kieran Foran and Aaron Woods are registered.

There had been speculation of the Bulldogs looking to offload a number of players, but Graham's exit might allow for some much-needed stability on the players' front.

"When we realised we couldn't make the playoffs, it was quite tough," Graham said.

"Originally, I wanted to be part of the solution and get everything back to where the club should be.

"But realistically, part of the solution for Canterbury was me moving on."

The 31-year-old Englishman's last game for the Bulldogs was Sunday's 26-20 win over the Dragons, which ended the Saints' season.

Graham played in the 2012 and 2014 grand finals for the Bulldogs, as part of a five-year stint at the club. He told teammates on Sunday he was leaving.

He will be a perfect fit for a Dragons' pack who have lost Russell Packer to the Wests Tigers.

The Saints have long been in search of a replacement front-rower, with Brisbane's Adam Blair expected to opt for the Warriors for next season.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor suggested Graham would be a valuable addition to the club when quizzed about the matter on Sunday.

"He's a current international. He's inspirational in the way he plays and he's very passionate in what he does," McGregor said.


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...rms-st-george-illawarra-dragons-move/?cs=3713
 
Brutalitops

Brutalitops

Juniors
Messages
2,333
Interesting that Graham said that the reason he picked Dragons is he wanted to go to a club he believed could be competitive, and also really liked the way the club presented itself to him.

This says 2 things to me:
1 - Perhaps the days of being a club nobody wants to touch are coming to an end. We are hurting from how this season ended, but it's clear to all we were formidable at times and are a club on the rise. Signings like Ben Hunt (and now James Graham) are important because they are players that players want to play with.

2 - Millward is doing a good job at recruitment and retention, both in identifying who to move on (Packer, Dugan) and selling our club to targets
 
emu62

emu62

Juniors
Messages
601
Brutalitops said:
Interesting that Graham said that the reason he picked Dragons is he wanted to go to a club he believed could be competitive, and also really liked the way the club presented itself to him.

This says 2 things to me:
1 - Perhaps the days of being a club nobody wants to touch are coming to an end. We are hurting from how this season ended, but it's clear to all we were formidable at times and are a club on the rise. Signings like Ben Hunt (and now James Graham) are important because they are players that players want to play with.

2 - Millward is doing a good job at recruitment and retention, both in identifying who to move on (Packer, Dugan) and selling our club to targets
Click to expand...

The more likely reason he picked StGeorge Illawarra is because no other club made a formal offer for him
 
S

slippery5

Juniors
Messages
1,700
SBD82 said:
The guy is 28/29 years old. He's had no dip in form. No reason to think next year is too late.
Click to expand...
Leeson Ah Mau DOB. 20-12-2089, reasonably young but too much of a plodder for me & he is only going to get slower, prefer to add Kerr or give Leilua some encouragement with some 1st grade time & you might just see him put in more effort on the training paddock so he can go to the next level we all wanted to see.
Shit just forgot, McNOIDEA doesn't like to think outside the box.
 
OzDragon

OzDragon

Coach
Messages
10,842
getsmarty said:
James Graham confirms St George Illawarra Dragons NRL move
Scott Bailey
6 Sep 2017, 8:28 a.m.
r0_244_4584_3076_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg


Change: James Graham. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Munoz


James Graham will move to St George Illawarra next season on a three-year deal.

The Canterbury captain on Tuesday night confirmed the worst-kept secret in the NRL, revealing he had verbally agreed to an offer late last week from the Dragons.

"I think it's the best move for myself and for both clubs, too," Graham told Fox Sports' NRL 360 program.

"At the age I'm at, that will probably take me to the end of my NRL career. I'm really excited for what's ahead."

Graham's departure will help alleviate intense salary-cap pressure on the Bulldogs for next season.

Canterbury are still attempting to get under next year's $9.4 million figure, to ensure the contracts of new arrivals Kieran Foran and Aaron Woods are registered.

There had been speculation of the Bulldogs looking to offload a number of players, but Graham's exit might allow for some much-needed stability on the players' front.

"When we realised we couldn't make the playoffs, it was quite tough," Graham said.

"Originally, I wanted to be part of the solution and get everything back to where the club should be.

"But realistically, part of the solution for Canterbury was me moving on."

The 31-year-old Englishman's last game for the Bulldogs was Sunday's 26-20 win over the Dragons, which ended the Saints' season.

Graham played in the 2012 and 2014 grand finals for the Bulldogs, as part of a five-year stint at the club. He told teammates on Sunday he was leaving.

He will be a perfect fit for a Dragons' pack who have lost Russell Packer to the Wests Tigers.

The Saints have long been in search of a replacement front-rower, with Brisbane's Adam Blair expected to opt for the Warriors for next season.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor suggested Graham would be a valuable addition to the club when quizzed about the matter on Sunday.

"He's a current international. He's inspirational in the way he plays and he's very passionate in what he does," McGregor said.


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...rms-st-george-illawarra-dragons-move/?cs=3713
Click to expand...
"Verbally agrees"

So nothing in writing?
 
Frank Facer

Frank Facer

First Grade
Messages
5,069
emu62 said:
The more likely reason he picked StGeorge Illawarra is because no other club made a formal offer for him
Click to expand...
I doubt that is the case. Brown wanted Graham at Newcastle and they were prepared to offer him a very attractive deal. Brown said that someone like Graham would have been perfect for the development of Newcastle's young forwards.

Graham probably could have earned more if he went to Newcastle, but he chose us, as he thought we could possibly win a comp in the next couple of years. I also have read that he resides in the Sutherland Shire, so he does not have to move his family to a new location.
 
emu62

emu62

Juniors
Messages
601
Frank Facer said:
I doubt that is the case. Brown wanted Graham at Newcastle and they were prepared to offer him a very attractive deal. Brown said that someone like Graham would have been perfect for the development of Newcastle's young forwards.

Graham probably could have earned more if he went to Newcastle, but he chose us, as he thought we could possibly win a comp in the next couple of years. I also have read that he resides in the Sutherland Shire, so he does not have to move his family to a new location.
Click to expand...


Sorry Frank ,my comment was written in jest
 
S

SBD82

Coach
Messages
17,842
slippery5 said:
Leeson Ah Mau DOB. 20-12-2089, reasonably young but too much of a plodder for me & he is only going to get slower, prefer to add Kerr or give Leilua some encouragement with some 1st grade time & you might just see him put in more effort on the training paddock so he can go to the next level we all wanted to see.
Shit just forgot, McNOIDEA doesn't like to think outside the box.
Click to expand...
If Leeson is a plodder I'll take 16 more plodders please.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top