James Graham unplugged: Englishman opens up ahead of first southern Sydney derby
JAMES Graham made a stirring debut at Kogarah Oval for the Dragons last week. Now the Englishman has opened up about all things rugby league ahead of his first southern Sydney derby against Cronulla.
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JAMES Graham made a stirring debut at Kogarah Oval for the Dragons last week.
Now the Englishman has opened up about all things rugby league to Daily Telegraph reporter Nick Walshaw ahead of his first southern Sydney derby against Cronulla.
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THE WARM-UP
OK, easy one first-up ... why on earth would you sign with a club boasting the game’s lowest Third Party Agreements?
“(Laughs) Ah, it doesn’t bother me. If players from clubs like Melbourne and Brisbane can earn a few extra dollars, I’m not upset.”
Not even a little?
“Melbourne have some very marketable names. Why shouldn’t they earn extra? I certainly wouldn’t vote against it. Plus here at St George Illawarra, the boys reckon all our cash goes to Ben Hunt, anyway.”
Of the dozen Dragons who travel to training on Tonya the minibus, you’re said to be the worst driver. True?
“Yeah, I really struggle with directions. Sometimes the guys even think I’m taking the mick with a wrong turn. They can’t believe I still don’t know where to go.”
But you’re so superstitious you spent six years taking the exact same route to Belmore for training. How do you get lost?
“Not sure, especially since we’ve got a sat-nav. I just seem to clock off.”
LEADERSHIP
This will be the first time in four years you’ve been without an NRL captaincy. How will that change you?
“Obviously there’s some protocol I won’t be part of ... that isn’t something I’m going to miss. Other than that, though, not much changes. Most of the time when I talk, I’m talking to myself anyway.”
Sadly, your hooked finger point will also be consigned to history, right?
“(Laughs) I wouldn’t say consigned to history. I mean, it’s still a part of international drinking rules, isn’t it? That law about no pointing being allowed. I’ll just save it up for those days.”
CONCUSSION
Over the years you’ve been incredibly honest with your take on concussion. Where do you sit now?
“I don’t know. I really don’t. I just think it’s hard to tell motivated athletes they can’t compete. The great fear with concussion is that it’ll lead to a premature death. But there’s a study, Goldman’s Dilemma, where around 200 athletes were asked ‘If you could take a pill to win an Olympic gold medal, but die five years later, would you do it?’ More than half said, yes, they’d take the pill.”
How do you think that study (taken over a period from 1982-95), which has its critics, equates to the NRL right now?
“I just feel that if you asked a similar question in rugby league, where guys have personality traits higher in things like aggression and competitiveness, I believe the figure (of athletes willing to risk the outcomes of concussion to play at the highest level) would be big. It’s why I’d like to see more research done. We’ll leave it at that.”
THE COACHES
Missing your old mate Dessie Hasler?
“Without getting too bogged down in the past, Des is someone who did a lot for me both as a player and person. I’ll never forget that. Also, I’ve also never been bitter about moving on from Canterbury. It was a choice I made. But really, all I’m concerned about is what’s happening now.”
Still, you’ve gone from the coach with rugby league’s best hair to a coach with the least ...
“I really like Paul McGregor’s personality. I like his reasons for being involved in the game, in coaching. Paul’s a coach whose primary focus is on the playing. And he gives his players a lot of opportunity to express themselves.”
Why is Wayne Bennett the man to make world champions of England?
“Just look at our recent World Cup camp — the buzz, how happy blokes were to be a part of it. Which isn’t to say previous campaigns haven’t been enjoyable. But in the past, there were times when players might’ve, say, looked to have surgery rather than represent England. But (Wigan backrower) John Bateman, he delayed a hand surgery for this World Cup. That would’ve really annoyed his club but he wanted to play for England. That’s what Wayne has created.”
So what is it about Bennett that makes people delay surgeries ...
“If I could answer that I’d write a book and make good money. All I can say is success, it follows him.”
HOME FIRES
How does St George Illawarra rid itself of that late-season slump?
“That’s a very complex question with a very complex answer. But we do have to action change to turn a few of those close losses into close wins. Also, losing Gareth Widdop to injury last season was big. Like any team, when you lose your heartbeat, that’s hard to offset.”
Is Widdop underestimated by a game obsessed with all things Origin playmaker?
“Probably. Which isn’t a bad thing. When you think before a ball was kicked this year, we were talking about potential NSW halves, who Queensland has replacing Johnathan Thurston ... that seems strange to me. It’s something Gaz doesn’t have to worry about and something I don’t think he’s looking for, either. I might be wrong, but I don’t think Gaz trains as hard as he does or plays like he does for plaudits.”
At the other end of the scale, is Matt Dufty worth the hype?
“What impresses me about Matt, it would be easy for him to get carried away and use his main attribute — speed — as a ‘get out’ for all situations; simply focus on what he can do in open space. But Matt’s really concentrating on all aspects of his game. He knows there’s still plenty to learn if he wants to reach those places people are saying he can end up.”
THIS IS ENGLAND
Which Englishman should NRL clubs be chasing right now?
Mentioned him before, John Bateman. He’s so battle-hardened. So tough.
Your old mate Sam Burgess said recently he could live in Australia forever. You?
“Right now, I don’t know. And that’s exciting. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t plan, but at the moment I’m happy here. Could potentially stay for some time. But you know, now that I’ve got a young family ... I’ll have to speak with the missus.”