NRL 2021: Wade Graham fuming after early exit against Storm
An angry Wade Graham says he wasn’t going to hide his frustration at being forced out of the game for an injury unrelated to concussion.
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An angry Wade Graham has declared he should never have come from the field after suffering a cheekbone injury — not a concussion — against the Melbourne Storm.
The Sharks captain said he was absolutely supportive of his club doctor and the code’s strict HIA protocols, but he wasn’t going to hide his frustration at being forced out of Friday night’s game for an injury unrelated to concussion.
Graham left the field late in the second-half after a head clash with Melbourne’s Tui Kamikamica.
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The Sharks captain stayed down longer than 15 seconds to have his cheekbone assessed — a situation that causes the automatic removal of a player from the field for a HIA.
“I was fine and as it’s happening I was getting angry because I knew what was going to happen as soon as I was getting my cheekbone checked out,” Graham said.
“This is the game now and I was filthy that I had to come off. The problem was, I knew I was fine. I went into the sheds and I was fine.
“I was filthy about leaving the boys a man down and also because I knew there’d be this extra attention on me because I was coming back after resting for two weeks from a head knock.
“The reality is, I could’ve played against the Bulldogs last week, but chose not too, simply because I thought it was the right thing to do for everyone — me, the club and the game.
“I passed my HIA in the dressing room and I actually had to apologise to our club doctor because I was so filthy that I was doing a test for an injury that had nothing to do with concussion.
“I know he (club doctor) was merely putting my welfare first and I thank him for that, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I had been asked to have my cheekbone assessed. It was only that there wasn’t long to go in the match that I didn’t come back on.”
At a friend’s wedding in the Hunter Valley on Saturday, Graham said he would “definitely” be available for the Sharks next match against Penrith on Friday night.
“All I’ve got is a bruised cheekbone, so yes, I’m absolutely fine to play,’’ Graham said.
“Our first half against Melbourne was loaded with positives and had we iced a couple of moments in that first-half we should’ve been further in front.
“Obviously the second-half was disappointing and as a collective we need to be better.
“But what I do love about this group is how united we are, the players, the coaches, in wanting to be better.
“We’re playing well for halves of football, like we did against the Roosters a few weeks ago and I’m more than confident that if we continue to work hard at training and get some troops back, we’ll get the results we all want.’’
The Sharks are confident of having Jesse Ramien (quad) and Matt Moylan (quad) back for Penrith, while Josh Dugan will also come into calculations after he was overlooked for the heavy loss to the Storm.
STORM’S EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES DAZZLE SHARKS
By Nick Smart
It is hard to see Melbourne Storm star hooker Harry Grant coming off the bench again this season.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy finally pulled the trigger at AAMI Park on Friday night, promoting the Queensland Origin rake to starting hooker for the first time this year against Cronulla.
Grant didn’t disappoint, brushing off a dislocated finger to help Storm overcome a sloppy first half to score a 40-14 win over its arch rival.
“I’m not sure how much damage he’s done to his finger or if he’s done any at all, but obviously there’s something there so we just need to have a look at that and see what happens for next week,” Bellamy said.
“We know he can start games and one of his strengths is his fitness and his ability to play 80 minutes, so we just wanted to see how he and Brandon went starting together.
“We’ll mix it up a bit and see what’s best for the team each week.”
Sharks skipper Wade Graham went off for a HIA late in the game.
“I’ve only just quickly had a chat to him and he feels fine,” Sharks interim coach Josh Hannay said after the match.
“I didn’t see the incident so I’m not sure where we’re really at with that one to be honest with you, so I’m not in a position to elaborate too much.
“We just erred on the side of the caution given his history … I think he felt up to staying out there but again the game the way it is and the protocols around HIA, there was a decision made on the sidelines that he needed to come despite the fact he felt fine.
“We’re dictated there by the medical staff so it was best we got him off.”
UP AND DOWN SHARKS
Cronulla took a two-point lead into the half-time break, but it should have led by even more.
The visitors all but dominated the first half, chewing up metres through the middle and capitalising on 20 missed tackles by Storm to apply the pressure.
Although, the dominance didn’t last right from the moment Shark Braden Hamlin-Uele injured his ankle in the first play of the second half.
It became all Melbourne in rapid time.
“The reality is we’re a 40 or 50-minute football team at the moment,” Hannay said.
“First half there was a top eight side out there and in the second half there was a bottom eight side out there.
“The difference between our good and bad is enormous.”
CHAMBERS MAKES HIS RETURN
IT appears they remember their club greats at Melbourne.
Will Chambers received a good reception from Storm fans in his return to AAMI Park, receiving a standing ovation by some when he ran out in a Cronulla jersey
The former Queensland and Kangaroos showed flashes of brilliance, but will need a few more runs to build up to full speed.
Hannay said Chambers had “hot and cold moments” but added he liked what he brought to the side.
ANOTHER VIC FOR STORM
Teenager Dean Ieremia made history on Friday night, becoming just the fourth Victorian-born player in club history to pull on a Storm jersey.
The Sunbury Tigers junior became Storm player No.213, earning his debut on the right wing in front of over 50 friends and family in the stands.
He followed Mahe Fonua, Young Tonumaipea and Richie Kennar as Victorians to reach the NRL stage.
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