Lost Titan: From tryscoring to fireman

HE was best known for his speed and tryscoring. These days, this Lost Titan is helping Gold Coast off the field.

PHIL Graham’s impact on the Gold Coast without doubt has come more in his post-NRL career than his limited opportunities on the field for the Titans.

The speedy centre finished his 11-year career under John Cartwright in 2012 but admits his battered body prevented him from reaching the level that had made him a danger man at the Roosters and, in particular, Canberra.

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“I got a couple of injuries at training and didn’t play that well and played a bit of reserve grade,” he reflected of his time at the Titans.

“I just couldn’t get my body right; I thought it was my body telling me that was enough so I finished up.”

After six months off, Graham successfully came through the arduous application process to become a firefighter.

“I was lucky enough to get through because it is pretty competitive. I think there was about 20,000 people applying for like 100 spots,” he said.

Former Raiders, Roosters and Titans speedster Phil Graham works these days as a firefighter at Helensvale Station. Picture Glenn Hampson

Often based at Southport or Helensvale, it’s a line of work he is passionate about.

“It’s great. I am very lucky to have a job like that and work with a lot of good people,” Graham said.

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Between firefighting, Graham has spent the past four years passing on his footy knowledge at the Burleigh Bears, where he is an assistant coach – focusing on outside backs and edge second-rowers – for their Intrust Super Cup side.

It’s exciting times at Pizzey Park, given the Bears are two wins away from repeating their 2016 ISC premiership heroics.

Phil Graham in action during the NRL Round 16 match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Gold Coast Titans at WIN Stadium in Wollongong, Friday, June 22, 2012.

“They’re a good bunch of blokes down there and they all work hard for each other,” Graham said.

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“It’s easy to get in there and do my bit with the boys, they all want to learn and be the best footy players they can.”

Although he finished with just two Titans games, that figure could have been a whole lot higher.

“I nearly came up to the Titans a few years earlier when I was at Canberra,” Graham revealed.

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“But it wasn’t the right time for me to leave, I thought I was still improving my game and learning at that stage so I stuck around.”

BY THE NUMBERS: PHIL GRAHAM

Age: 37

Born: Tamworth, NSW

NRL debut: 2002, Canberra against Brisbane

NRL teams: Canberra (111 games, 2002-09), Sydney (34 games, 2010-11), Gold Coast (2 games, 2012)

NRL tries: 79

Position: Centre/wing

NRL win-draw-loss: 72-1-74 (48.98 per cent)

■ Was called up for his representative debut for NSW Country in 2007 when Timana Tahu was ruled out with a hamstring issue but succumbed to a knee injury himself during the match at Coffs Harbour.

■ Try-scoring machine bagged three hat-tricks before adding a four-try haul to his name in Canberra’s memorable 56-0 flogging of Brisbane in 2009.

■ After two finals games in eight years with the Green Machine, he helped the Roosters to a grand final berth in his first season at the club – although he didn’t play in the 2010 decider that was ultimately won by the Dragons.

■ Made both of his Titans appearances at fullback, despite having played the position in just three per cent of his prior career matches.