James Graham

[This Year?]

*double*

 

[Dragonsamy]

Looks like Jimmy of to St Helens

 

[TruSaint]

We knew what we bought with Graham.
For a talented pack, we had no leadership. No grit.

The club knew he was at the back end on his career but thought he could offer value to the younger props/ forwards coming through. If some of his passion has been instilled in the clubs future props, then he has done well.

Im a massive fan. always was even when he was at the Dogs. Old school, yes some nasty incidents in his record, but everyone he plays with and against will say he's a great leader. One that doesn't need the "c" next to his name.

I wish him well.

 

[Gareth67]

Yeah apart from Fifita it was a depressing list. All exactly the kind of mediocre journeyman players McGregor loves.

since77 yes it was a bluudy depressing list of over-the-hill players , some of whom would possibly jump at the chance to play for a final big $ dollar contract with the Dragons .

As you say 5 or 6 years ago they would had been what we needed , but not now .

FMD is that Uncle Bruce calling the shots on Waterboy & Turnstile?

I am embarrassed to say that it’s me looking at a few Play Girl nudies that I had on my phone .

 

[redandwhite4evr]

Jimmy Graham is a hard as nails rugby league player and has tried his best in the two and a bit years he has played for us. Unfortunately he doesn't offer much nowadays and leaving us will not be of great loss.

His request for an immediate release from his final year of his contract could be because he is fed up with all of the ups and downs of our club. I really don't know why he decided to take up the option to continue to play with us this year (does anyone know when he did take up the option?). If it was after the review of last year, then he might have thought things might change with Flanno coming? Hard to say!

It's been a topsy turvy type of year and maybe he cannot see much success in the club going forward and might want to spend more time with his parents back in the old dart with the problems of Covid-19 and possibly no future here or at any other NRL club.

In any case I wish him well and thank him for his services.

It wouldn't be any surprise to me that they might try and get Matt Prior to come back and play for us. I am sure that Flanno would love him here. He has won 2 grand finals 2010 and 2016 so can be very helpful to the younger players we should keep.

Jimmy is a proud man- however, for a man who I cannot recall breaking a tackle in the first two years of his stay, I think the Dragons (in particular Millward/McGregor) made a huge mistake in offering him an option for the third year in his favour. Not being selected in the starting line up may have been the final straw in a difficult year.

In recent times one thing (I'm assuming) Mary had him doing that really got up my nose was slipping into the first receiver role, not running to the line but simply shovelling the ball on to a player a metre away from him. It reeked of getting stats up but not much else. Mary had De Belin doing something similar but more at the line and to a wider runner.

I hope that at some stage in the future we can re-employ him in an off field role - development officer or some such thing-with his natural passion and enthusiasm, that is where his real strength lies now.

 

[Gareth67]

Perhaps I am hoping for a bit much , however it would better if the new 4 man selection committee have a say as to whom is the BEST replacement . I am sure that Flanagan will not consider any journeymen , but only true quality .

 

[Old Timer]

You’re making claims and can’t back them. In the process you’re casting aspersions on a bloke’s character. Obfuscation and attacking me doesn’t change that.

The only thing that might be delusional about me right now is believing that you’re worth the energy to engage with.

I can assure you I am in no way questioning James Grahams character or his professionalism however you can interpret the post any way you like.

It was never my intent and I think others did interpret it differently to both you and True_Believer.

Fair to say we don't all see things in this same form despite our best efforts for that to be the case.

I do note that you accuse me of assumptions but you have no trouble in making assumptions yourself or jumping to conclusions for that matter as to the intent of my post.

I have posted much on James Graham and have always considered his signing to be a "dud deal" and as such believe the club is responsible for the outcome not Graham himself other than the fact he is now wanting out which is on his head based on the information at hand.

 

[Dragonslayer]

I hope one of your 3 coaches is Shaun Wane...

Yes, actually he's #1 choice

 

[BLM01]

We knew what we bought with Graham.
For a talented pack, we had no leadership. No grit.

The club knew he was at the back end on his career but thought he could offer value to the younger props/ forwards coming through. If some of his passion has been instilled in the clubs future props, then he has done well.

Im a massive fan. always was even when he was at the Dogs. Old school, yes some nasty incidents in his record, but everyone he plays with and against will say he's a great leader. One that doesn't need the "c" next to his name.

I wish him well.

100% correct

 

[blacksafake]

Shannon Boyd wants out at the Titan's and being a former Raider fits our criteria.

You wouldn’t put it past them lol.
I think we were in the hunt for him before he signed with the titans.
Speaking of raiders players Sutton could be worth a look too.

 

[Saints Forever]

Jimmy has been a great player.

He is struggling in the NRL and like Luke is at the end of his career.

the Club should immediately release the bloke.

He has been playing as a lock anyway rather than as a prop. Merrin can fill his role. If JDB miraculously plays this season we don’t need to sign a replacement for Jimmy.

in terms of props, our quality falls away quickly after Vaughan. Kerr has earned the right to more game time.

Korbin Sims is a shot mentally since he broke his arm a second time.

Lawrie is slowly improving but will never set the world alight.

Host is big enough to play front row but is better suited to play on the edge of the ruck.

I would give young Blacker some game time.

He has the size to make an impact once his fitness reaches NRL standard.

Merrin/Korbin Sims/Host and Blacker should be rotated to soak up Jimmy’s minutes.

 

[blacksafake]

I have always been a fan, even when playing for the dogs. Just wish we could have got him 2/3 years earlier. We’ll never know the truth but if he has been tapped on the shoulder & the club has given him the chance to leave on his own terms then I’m ok with that.
Wish him well.

 

[Dragsters]

Yes, actually he's #1 choice

Hallelujah!

Could this once great club be back on track to the resurrection we all crave?

Shaun Wane could be the man to lead us out of the mire.

A real leader this bloke is...

 

[redv13]

You wouldn’t put it past them lol.
I think we were in the hunt for him before he signed with the titans.
Speaking of raiders players Sutton could be worth a look too.

I’d take Boyd no dramas. Add some size up front.
Better than some of the other mongos being mentioned like Aiden Tolman

 

[SBD82]

I’d take Boyd no dramas. Add some size up front.
Better than some of the other mongos being mentioned like Aiden Tolman

Besides one purple patch where he was picked for the kangaroos, IMO Boyd has been pretty underwhelming for most of his career.

I’d prefer to see us chase someone on the upward trajectory, instead of Boyd who has regressed in the last few years.

NB. Aiden Tolman is in the same boat.

 

[redv13]

Besides one purple patch where he was picked for the kangaroos, IMO Boyd has been pretty underwhelming for most of his career.

I’d prefer to see us chase someone on the upward trajectory, instead of Boyd who has regressed in the last few years.

NB. Aiden Tolman is in the same boat.

Saints should throw some cabbage at Lindsay Collins from the chooks. On fire and imagine him with Vaughan and Kerr!!

 

[possm]

I wonder if the club can use the dollars saved in Jimmy’s early departure towards the payout of the Peanut coach.
Fire up the calculator Bruce & Andrew.

SGI just need to ask the owners for an extra $1m or so to terminate Mary's contract. Both share holders have the capacity to contribute approx. 500k each. Sheppard can be asked to act as interim coach till the end of season 2020 and the new coach's salary can be sorted out after that.

 

[redv13]

SGI just need to ask the owners for an extra $1m or so to terminate Mary's contract. Both share holders have the capacity to contribute approx. 500k each. Sheppard can be asked to act as interim coach till the end of season 2020 and the new coach's salary can be sorted out after that.

Millward can take over in the interim and do a combined Coach/Recruitment role. Problem sorted

 

[possm]

Perhaps I am hoping for a bit much , however it would better if the new 4 man selection committee have a say as to whom is the BEST replacement . I am sure that Flanagan will not consider any journeymen , but only true quality .

We have some good young juniors coming through however, the outgoing Frizell and Graham need to be replaced by genuine first forwards. I sugest we make the following changes in our forward pack for 2021:

Forwards
Frizell replace with D Fifita from Broncos
Graham replace with A Fifita from Sharks
K Sims replace with Blacker from Dragons
De Belin - maybe replace with McInnes from Dragons
Hunt to be fulltime hooker
Bring back Timm

Backs
Dufty and Ramsey to contest fullback
Pereira and Ramsey to contest left wing
Lafai replaced by Williame
Aitken replace by Lomax
Ravalawa replaced by Saab
Norman and Sullivan to contest five-eighth
Clune at halfback

Aitken. Lafai and Ravalawa gone giving SGI sufficient salary cap to recruit a marquee fullback if required.

So for now, the top 17 for season 2021 should look like this:

1. Dufty
2. Ramsey
3. Lomax
4. Williame
5. Saab
6. Sullivan
7. Clune
8. A Fifita
9. Hunt
10. Vaughan
11. T Sims
12. D Fifita
13. McInnes

14. Kerr
15. Lawrie
16. Ford
17. Fuimaono

 

[Dragonsamy]

Rav has just been resigned.
There not getting rid of him