James Graham hails Wayne Bennett’s appointment as England coach

JAMES Graham has endorsed Wayne Bennett’s appointment as England coach, saying his All-Stars mentor is the best man for the job.

World All Stars player James Graham ready for the All Stars game. Pic Darren England.

JAMES Graham has endorsed Wayne Bennett’s appointment as England coach, saying his All-Stars mentor is the best man for the job regardless of where he is from.

England’s most-capped player, Graham hit back at suggestions that England should stick to a homegrown coach, calling Bennett one of the best of all time.

The fiery Bulldogs captain applauded the appointment by the English RFL and said while he believed previous mentor Steve McNamara had done an “outstanding job” he liked the direction England were going in ahead of this year’s season-ending Four Nations.

“If Wayne is the right man for the job, he can be from anywhere,” Graham told The Courier-Mail.

“He can be from Antarctica if he wants to be, I don’t care. If he’s the best man for the job and he’s going to get the best out of an England team, then it doesn’t matter to me.

“That’s the way sport’s going. It’s not the first and it probably won’t be the last time a person from one nation coaches another.”

Graham first came under the tutelage of Bennett last year while playing for the NRL All-Stars.

The pair have come together again this year for the All-Stars match in the newly named World team, and Graham said he has spoken to the Brisbane coach about his new international duties.

“Speaking to him and how passionate he seems about it, it seems like a great decision,” he said.

“You know Wayne demands respect. He’s one of the best coaches of all time. If he can’t get respect and the best out of players, then no one can.”

However, Graham said he still had another 10 months before he gets to work with Bennett in that capacity and was more focused on doing everything he can in the meantime to retain his position in the England side.

World All Stars player James Graham is drawing on his roots for this weekend’s game.

That will start this Saturday with the All-Stars match, which is one Graham holds a lot of love for.

Having grown up in Liverpool, Graham said this is another chance for him to represent his country but to also “give back” to the indigenous people of his adopted home, Australia.

“We know how important it is to the indigenous boys,” he said.

“It makes me feel good thinking we’re giving something back. We need to help that. It’s not just about them and us. It’s about everybody giving back and helping the game and the culture.

“I also draw on my English heritage and where I’m from in Liverpool and where my father is from in Cumbria, one of rugby league’s forgotten heartlands.

“I’m here representing England and where I’m from too. I draw a lot from that.”

Graham said he wanted to see the All-Stars continue long into the future, not just because of the opportunities it provided him and other players but also because of the impact on the wider community.