James Graham says he’s sick of ‘fake outrage’ in the NRL

BULLDOGS skipper James Graham admits he censors himself to avoid offending people and that he’s sick of ‘fake outrage’ and ‘the PC brigade’.

Bulldog's James Graham reacts as Bulldog's Josh Reynolds is put on report by referee Gerard Sutton for his tackle on Shark's Valentine Holmes during the NRL game between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Cronulla Sharks at Belmore Oval.Picture Gregg Porteous

CANTERBURY skipper James Graham admits he censors himself publicly to avoid offending rugby league’s Politically Correct brigade.

Graham, one of the NRL’s most respected figures, claims there are people “pretending to be outraged” by every remotely contentious comment made by players, coaches and officials.

“What can you say? What can’t you say? What words can you use? I don’t know,” Graham said.

“You feel like you’re walking on eggshells at times in life.”

The NRL has constantly been accused of being too PC in recent years, particularly under former CEO Dave Smith.

Graham knows that trouble looms with any comment that can be misread and misconstrued.

Asked did he censor himself, Graham said: “You have to be very careful in what you say. Be very nice, very complimentary of everybody and everything and everything that everybody does.

“Everyone is doing a great job. The whole world is getting PC. Not just a rugby league thing, it’s a life thing. You have to be super, super careful about what you say.

“Even when I’ve been asked certain viewpoints on concussion, just everybody sitting at computers…there’s a lot of people pretending to be outraged over little things.

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“Maybe it will turn. A lot are pretending to be outraged and being offended my things. Possibly we are a bit sensitive. I think the world is too PC.”

Graham was asked this week to defend Josh Reynolds’ on-field outburst on young hooker Michael Lichaa.

Lichaa threw a poor pass last weekend which was dropped by Reynolds, who then threw the ball back at Liccha in frustration.

“The PC brigade would be out there in force, pretending to be outraged about (setting) such a bad example,” Graham said.

“That’s what happens when you’re playing sport sometimes when you are good mates and you are close. You have that moment and then you get on with it.”

The NRL claim they only have guidelines about players commenting publicly on match officials and the match review committee.

Graham is renowned for his passion and intensity on the field.

NRL officials claim the gagging of players and coaches from criticising referees was to “encourage more people to become referees, while also ensuring that the integrity of the match officials and the game was protected.”

The NRL say guidelines around commenting before judiciary hearings was to “ensure the integrity of the match review and judiciary process remains in place.”

A few years ago, 1970s knockabout Tommy Raudonikis took aim rugby league’s “do-gooders.”

“It is too politically correct now and that goes for all of Australian society. The NRL panic when there’s negative publicity,” Raudonikis said.