NRL 2021: Wade Graham makes call on future after another concussion blow
Wade Graham has broken his silence on his NRL future, after suffering a fourth serious head knock in the 2021 NRL season.
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Health first, football second.
That’s the decision made by Wade Graham who says he has given no consideration to ending his 258-game career due to another worrying head knock.
The Cronulla captain has declared he will instead take an extended break from playing in the NRL after suffering his fourth HIA this season against Penrith on Friday night.
Despite feeling well within himself, Graham knows that he can’t afford to continue at the current rate of being taken from the field for HIAs that he has this season.
It’s why he wants to momentarily step away from the game, to give his mind and body time out, but also use the opportunity to seek advice from specialists on a suitable return to play plan.
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Graham will meet with specialists next week to determine a recovery and return-to-play plan.
At a minimum, the 30-year-old is likely to miss the next month of football.
Graham said his latest head knock, while attempting a tackle on Panthers winger Robert Jennings, was due to a mistimed tackle - a recurring issue he has been working hard to correct.
Making matters worse for Graham was that he also hyperextended his knee during the attempt at tackle.
“Instead of pulling out of the tackle when I’m not in a good position, I’m still going through with the tackle,’’ Graham said of his tackle technique.
“It’s disappointing because I know what I’m doing wrong.’’
Graham was taken from the field on Friday night, but passed his HIA test inside the dressing rooms.
A cautious approach due to his rate of head knocks and the additional knee injury forced him to watch the Sharks third consecutive win from the sidelines,
He said he felt “fine” on Saturday morning, but understood his recovery was all about mitigating any future risk or ongoing health issues.
“I’m going to go through everything with the Sharks doctors and the specialists next week,’’ Graham said.
“It’s safe to say I’ll take some time out now, I’ll step back out of precaution more than anything.
“What I will say is, most players who, if they tried to make a tackle at that speed of impact, would‘ve felt it.
“Unlike some other players who have had a few head knocks, mine aren’t coming from a minor clip or brush of another player.
“That would worry me, but that’s not the case.’’
Asked if he had considered walking away from the sport, Graham said: “No, I haven’t.
“I’m not an idiot, but if you look at each HIA I’ve had, the one before Friday night was for a hit on the cheekbone.
“Of course, the last thing I’m going to do is put my health at risk, but I’m very confident that with the right advice and time, I’ll be fine.’’
Graham added that he had received a text message of support from Roosters captain Boyd Cordner, who is on the comeback trail from repeated concussions.
“I’m really interested to have a look at how the Roosters have managed their players like Boyd Cordner and Luke Keary in the past,’’ Graham said.
“Between both those players, there’s an outline, or guide, of what is required to return to play.
“Everybody is different and I believe my situation is different to those boys, but at least we’re starting to understand there’s a process to follow.”
Graham added that as captain of the Sharks, he was proud to watch the team hold-on to score a 19-18 victory over the Panthers.
“You can see how much the boys are playing for each other, which I believe is a clear sign that we’re working towards something very positive here at the Sharks,’’ Graham said.
“We’ve got some good depth in the back row with the likes of Teig Wilton and Siosifa Talakai more than capable of covering me through this little period.’’
FEARS FOR GRAHAM FUTURE AFTER LATEST HIA CONCERN
—Fatima Kdouh
There are fears for the immediate playing future of Wade Graham after the Cronulla captain was taken from the field with a suspected concussion in the Sharks’ thrilling win against Penrith.
It was Graham’s fourth head knock so far this season.
Remarkably, Graham passed his head injury assessment in the sheds but did not return after he suffered a knee injury in the same tackle that left him completely dazed.
Sharks medical staff confirmed Graham also hyperextended his left knee when trying to tackle Panthers winger Robert Jennings.
The mistimed tackle in the 26th minute marred the Sharks’ dominant first half performance against ladder leaders Penrith.
Despite passing his HIA test, to the eye, Graham’s head knock looked particularly ugly.
Re Wade Graham, technically as soon as he shows Category 1 symptom of concussion (motor incoordination) has failed his HIA. Can still pass testing in the sheds, but unable to return to the field as these symptoms rule a player out immediately. Concern also for knee hyperextension pic.twitter.com/tXFYSoQKo5
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 11, 2021
Michael Ennis, who played alongside Graham in Cronulla’s historic premiership victory in 2016, said it was “hard to watch” the 259-game veteran suffer another head knock. Ennis also conceded Graham made a poor decision to try and tackle Jennings on the left side of the winger’s hip.
“He got his head on the wrong side and then he gets another bang on the temple,” Fox League’s Michael Ennis said.
“Then he does something to his knee, maybe it’s a hyperextension. It’s really hard to watch as a mate. It’s a huge concern, this concussion.”
The backrower was dazed and wobbly on his feet after an attempted low tackle on Jennings went horribly wrong.
While clearly dazed, Graham hobbled to his feet, hopping unable to put pressure on his left knee before collapsing to the ground.
Fox League’s Greg Alexander said despite passing the H.I.A. in the sheds, Graham could be “trouble”.
“It’s not an easy thing to talk about,” Alexander said.
“He’s been such a terrific stalwart for the Sharks.
“I think he’s in a bit of trouble.
“He missed a couple of games after a Round 5 head knock.
“Even though he’s passed his HIA – he did hurt his knee – but he was clearly concussed. It’s sad to watch because he’s been such a good player.”
It was Graham’s fourth serious head knock this year after the veteran forward suffered three concussions over March and April.
Two of those concussions occurred in the space of only 15 days, forcing the veteran forward to spend two weeks on the sidelines.
The first one happened in round three against the Eels and the second occurred in round five against the Sydney Roosters when Graham put his head in the wrong spot trying to tackle forward Isaac Liu.
At the time, Graham admitted both concussions were the result of bad tackling technique.
Bad tackling technique was the culprit again last night at Netstrata Jubilee Oval at Kogarah.
Graham then suffered the third concussion on his return in round eight against the Melbourne Storm.
The former Origin forward has had a history with concussion beyond this season. Graham was floored by a Frank Pritchard in 2011 and a Joey Leilua elbow in 2016.
UNWANTED JOHNSON MAKES POINT TO SHARKS
—Matt Encarnacion
Moments after breaking the hearts of Penrith’s second-string side, Shaun Johnson has revealed his own shattered dream of riding off into the sunset with Cronulla.
Johnson nailed a 79th-minute field goal to deliver the Sharks a dramatic 19-18 victory over a depleted Penrith on Friday night.
The matchwinner comes just weeks after it was revealed the New Zealand international was told he would not be re-signed by the club once his contract expires at the end of the year.
He is one of three veterans, including Josh Dugan and Aaron Woods, on the lookout for new homes once incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon arrives in the summer.
“I got the news a couple of weeks back and it wasn’t the news I wanted to hear,” Johnson said post-game.
“They gave me an opportunity three years ago and I certainly enjoyed my time here. It’s not meant to be, they want to head in a different direction and I do respect that.
“But for me all I can focus on is coming out here and getting some games under my belt and trusting that next year will take care of itself.
“Tonight hopefully helps. And if there’s any clubs out there after a halfback, I’m your man.”
The Sharks appeared to have blown an 18-0 lead when a Matt Burton-inspired Panthers roared back with three straight tries in the second half.
But Johnson, who has already been linked with the spiralling Canberra Raiders, nailed the game-winner from 35 metres out to seal their third straight win.
It breathes new life into Cronulla’s season, which looked dead and buried three weeks ago when Hannay controversially took over from John Morris and lost his first five games in charge.
But, having settled on a new halves combination of Johnson and a reborn Matt Moylan, the Sharks are now in their best form of the year and on the cusp of a shock move into the top eight.
The triumph was soured by another concussion to skipper Wade Graham in the first half – his fourth so far this campaign.
It was a brave fightback from the Panthers, who were without five of their State of Origin stars in Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo and Kurt Capewell.
Burton orchestrated the comeback with two tries, but in the end coach Ivan Cleary was left to rue his decision to rest his big-name contingent.
The ladder leaders have now dropped two straight and could lose top spot to Melbourne by the end of the round.
Cleary defended his decision to rest his stars.
“They all wanted to play, but in the long run, it was best for them. We made that decision when the draw first came out. It was only made harder with the game up in Townsville,” he said.
Plenty of eyebrows were raised when Moylan was named as the man to partner 2022 recruit Nicho Hynes in the halves by Fitzibbon next season.
But Moylan showed he is well and truly over his hamstring issues that have plagued him in recent times.
The former Blues star made his presence felt early against his former club, sending Ronaldo Mulitalo into the backfield with a sharp cutout on their own 20-metre line.
The test was when Mulitalo drew in the fullback and found his supporting five-eighth, who stretched his dodgy hamstring by beating a field of three chasers on a 55-metre sprint to the line.
It certainly gave his teammates plenty of confidence as they took full advantage of a out-of-sorts Penrith side to surge to a commanding three-try halftime lead.
Moylan was followed in by Johnson following Briton Nikora’s aerial take, and capped off with Mulitalo’s acrobatic finish to end the half.
BURTON GETS PANTHERS PURRING – EVENTUALLY
Whatever coach Cleary said in the sheds worked wonders for his side, who put the home side on the Netstrata Jubilee Stadium ropes for most of the second period.
Three times they got over the line only to be denied, before Burton finally got the visitors on the scoreboard with a left foot stop in the 58th minute.
A try to impressive rookie forward Izack Tago and another to Burton set up a grandstand finish, only for Johnson to step up in the clutch.
It was a brave fightback from the Panthers, who were without five of their State of Origin stars in Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo and Kurt Capewell.
Burton orchestrated the comeback with two tries, but in the end coach Ivan Cleary may rue his decision to rest his big-name contingent.
The ladder leaders have now dropped two straight and could lose top spot to Melbourne by the end of the round.
UNHAPPY API
Penrith hooker Api Koroisau would’ve been bursting to get onto the field after being an unused 18th man for NSW in Wednesday’s State of Origin romp over Queensland.
But any opportunity to play in game two might be taken out of Fittler’s hands after Koroisau was twice put on report, first for a lifting tackle on Aaron Woods, and then tripping Shaun Johnson.
The one Panther who did back up was second-rower Liam Martin, who was injected midway through the first half but couldn’t stop the relentless waves of Shark attacks.
Sharks duo Will Chambers and Andrew Fifita were also on report in the second half.
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Originally published as NRL 2021: Wade Graham makes call on future after another concussion blow
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