‘I feel like I’m ready’: Campbell Graham backing himself for State of Origin call-up

Stephen Crichton and Jack Wighton appear to be in the lead to replace Latrell Mitchell in game one of the State of Origin series but don’t write Campbell Graham off just yet.

Graham has had a strong start to the season. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Campbell Graham has emerged as a surprise contender for a State of Origin jersey this year and the South Sydney Rabbitohs centre insists he would be ready for the rigours of representative footy if called upon.

Stephen Crichton and Jack Wighton appear the frontrunners to replace the injured Latrell Mitchell in the centres for the NSW Blues in game one but Graham is putting a strong case forward, too.

The rangy Rabbitoh is averaging just under 150 run metres per game in 2022 and has made the second-most post-contact metres of any centre in the league after six rounds.

He’s scored three tries from six games and with a powerful line break down the right side, set one up against the Bulldogs on Friday.

The fact that the Rabbitohs appear to be rediscovering their mojo in attack will only help his chances.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Could Graham partner Tom Trbojevic in the centres for NSW? (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Graham said he was itching for a taste of representative footy.

“Obviously I’d love to play State of Origin. I feel like I’m ready,” he said.

“Obviously that comes down to selection and there’s a lot of tough competition out there for that centre spot, a few blokes who are eligible are playing some good footy. It’s exciting.

“If the opportunity came up I’d be very grateful and I’d take it with both hands.”

Graham said there was only one way to make sure his name would be on Brad Fittler’s mind when he sat down to pick his team for game one.

“It’s not going to come unless I keep playing good footy for Souths. That’s my main focus for now,” he said.

Graham has played his entire career to date with the Rabbitohs. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

After dropping three of their first four, the Rabbitohs have now won back-to-back games but Graham said his side still had plenty to work on.

“We didn’t start the year as we would’ve wanted. We picked up a few losses in the first month of footy but we’re starting to build nicely,” he said.

“I still think there’s a lot of improvement in us. That’s going to come from within and what we’re doing out here on the training park. Hopefully we can just keep building from last week’s win.”

If they’re serious about playing finals in Jason Demetriou’s first season as head coach, the Rabbitohs must win clashes with the Tigers, Broncos and Warriors in the next month.

“We’ve got games coming up that we’re going to have to get up for and definitely take the two points if we want to start heading in the direction that we want to,” Graham said.

Originally published as ‘I feel like I’m ready’: Campbell Graham backing himself for State of Origin call-up