Wade Graham knocks back Penrith offer to stay at Cronulla Sharks

NO matter how long he stays a Cronulla Shark, Wade Graham will always be fond of his Penrith roots.

Wade Graham

NO matter how long he stays a Cronulla Shark, Wade Graham will always be fond of his Penrith roots.

But loyalty trumped pride this week, when the ex-Panthers schoolboy star knocked back overtures from his junior club to ink a two-year extension with Cronulla.

Graham's re-signing continues a rich vein of recruitment gold for the resurgent Sharks, who have also kicked-off talks to extend the contracts of star pair Todd Carney and Jeremy Smith beyond next season.

Looking forward to former Panthers teammate Michael Gordon joining him in the Shire in 2013, Graham was also reluctant to swap a rising club for one that's entering a tough rebuilding phase.

But the biggest factor in his decision to turn-down Panthers supremo Phil Gould and a three-year deal from Parramatta worth $850,000 was repaying Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan.

After dreaming of playing his entire career at Penrith, Graham arrived at Cronulla in late 2010 with the wounds from his axing to Toyota Cup side still fresh.

The 21-year-old has not forgotten Flanagan's pledge to back him in first grade at the start of last year, a vow that was kept despite some indifferent form in a struggling team.

Now hitting career-best form as a dangerous bench utility, Graham can see some fruitful years ahead with Cronulla suddenly a desirable destination for the NRL's elite.

"It was tough to leave Penrith because I'm proud of where I come from," he said.

"Seeing the boys struggling this year hurts me, and I still keep in touch with them. I did speak to Gus and Penrith seems like a very different club to when I was there.

"The management that burned me are gone, but they're still going through a process of rebuilding.

"I've been through that at Penrith and then here last year. It's a long process.

"I've been in struggling sides, but at Cronulla there's now a real chance to be a top four team and to consistently challenge the top teams over the next few years."

Graham paid special tribute to Flanagan and Sharks football manager Darren Mooney.

"From day one they've welcomed me and backed me," he said. "I got off to a slow start and was travelling from my parents' house in Blacktown last year.

"But Flanno stuck with me and stuck with me. This year I'm starting to play some good footy and that made the decision clear in the end."

Graham is looking to buy property closer to Toyota Park, where he's struck-up a close bond with Carney.

The Sunday Telegraph understands Cronulla has taken initial steps to lock-up Carney. The club is also in talks to extend Smith's deal, which also finishes next year, until 2015.

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