Penrith greats rue the day Panthers lost Wade Graham to Cronulla
Is Wade Graham the best backrow forward in the world? No doubt you wouldn’t get any arguments from Cronulla. Which is what pains these former Penrith greats even more.
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Mark Geyer loves him. Seriously, the proudest of Panthers loves him.
“If I’m building a team tomorrow, Wade Graham is in it,’’ Geyer said recently on Triple M.
He’s not the only infatuated Penrith legend either.
Listen on Fox Sports or Nine during the coverage of Friday Night Footy, Greg Alexander and Brad Fittler, mention Graham’s name.
You can hear the pain.
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Penrith’s heartbeat for so long, Geyer, Alexander and Fittler, can be excused for having heart palpitations every time Graham runs out for Cronulla.
After all remember, Graham is the one that got away, leaving his junior club Penrith to join the Sharks in 2011.
And what’s worse for Penrith fans is that the Blacktown City schoolboy, who grew up cheering the Panthers from the northern hill, is that such is his evolution as player, he is now at the centre of the loftiest of debate.
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Not only due to his ability to help guide NSW to an Origin series win following a knee reconstruction, but his skill to dominate South Sydney’s right edge last weekend in just his fourth appearance this year and after three weeks out with a hamstring injury, talkback radio has been humming with the question this week, is Graham the best backrow forward in the world?
It’s a question that was put to Sharks coach John Morris ahead of Friday night’s crunch match.
“He’d certainly have to be at the table when you’re picking them (world’s best backrower’s),’’ Morris said. “His skill level is like no backrower in the game.
“He brings a lot to our team, not just his ability to play with the ball, but the confidence he instils in everyone else around him. It allows them to relax and play their game.
“I think you see a different Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsened with Wade in the team. It takes the pressure off them as playmakers.
“In team meetings, in videos, we’ve missed that leadership all year but I’m certainly not surprised what Wade Graham can do on the footy field.
“What he brings to us, as I said before, it’s not only his ability with the ball, it’s his general presence on and off the field.
“It’s a pretty big wrap when you’re an NRL player and you’re making other players perform better.’’
The numbers support Morris’ praise.
According to Fox Sports Stats, Graham has produced more line break assists (six) and tackle busts (five) than he has matches (four) this year.
Morris added that given Graham’s limited game-time in 2019, his focus against Penrith was a narrow one.
“I know Wadeo is keen to back it up. I know he doesn’t just want to be a flash in the pan type performance (against Souths).
“He wants to make sure he’s doing that every week for us.
“But he’ll need no more motivation this week, going back out to Penrith, his local club. It should be a good battle.’’
Originally published as Penrith greats rue the day Panthers lost Wade Graham to Cronulla
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