NRL fans, pundits sure Campbell Graham is going to play Origin

South Sydney star Campbell Graham has had an absolute night out in Brisbane with the entire NRL sure he’s destined for higher honours.

Campbell Graham is a try scoring machine. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

South Sydney Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham has continued to make a huge case to be included in the NSW Blues Origin side.

In his side’s 32-6 win over the Brisbane Broncos, Graham scored a hat-trick, made 137m in 14 runs as well as making a line break, providing a line break assist and a try assist in as complete a performance as you’d ever want from a centre.

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The 23-year-old has had a taste of representative football already, winning last years’ World Cup with Australia and fans are tipping him to pull on the Sky Blue jersey for the first time.

While the likes of Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic were expected to be shoo-ins, the Sea Eagles star has been far from his best form this year and Graham has been making a near irresistible case for NSW coach Brad Fittler.

When he scored his third try, Andrew Voss screamed: “Campbell Graham, excuse me sir, what size blue jersey do you take?”

Cooper Cronk added: “That blue jersey is extra-large because he’s got his name written all over it.”

He later added that it was “one of the best games of his career”.

“Three tries and a try assist and he was in everything tonight Campbell Graham,” Cronk said.

“I tell you what the talk around Latrell and the injuries to Tom Trbojevic.

“Latrell has got one spot. If Turbo is not fit then Campbell Graham absolutely.

“He might be in line for a wing spot as well. He is big, physical and reliable.

“Campbell Graham would do it justice. He has represented his country and played really well in the World Cup under Mal Meninga.

“Graham has been sensational and deserves the opportunity to represent his State.”

Campbell Graham’s form would be giving Blues selectors headaches. Photo: NRL PHOTOS

Graham’s hat-trick saw him jump to the top of the NRL try scoring ladder after the match.

Fans were certain that Graham had done what he’d needed to do to run out for NSW.

Hattrick to in-form Campbell Graham - the comp's leading tryscorer - a try double and four goals for Latrell Mitchell, the #Bunnies rampant 32-6 winners over table-topping #Broncos at Suncorp. Souths going from strength to strength. #NRLBroncosSouths

— Robert Smith (@OnyaDon) April 28, 2023

There’s absolutely no good reason why Campbell Graham doesn’t get the origin call up, which means we should all start preparing ourselves for the disappointment when Fittler inevitably dogs the boys like he did with JAC last year.

— lavender baj (@lavosaurus) April 28, 2023

If Campbell Graham doesn’t play #Origin this year, I’m not going to watch #NRLBroncosSouths

— Lachlan Jeffery (@LachlanJeffery) April 28, 2023

Fox Sports’ Michael Ennis said the rep retirement of Jack Wighton and Trbojevic injury could open the door for Graham.

“When you think of Origin and you think of those tough, grinding moments where you’re just under brutal fatigue and you’re holding on, he holds up in those pressure moments,” Ennis said.

Queensland great Gorden Tallis said Graham “wouldn’t look out of place” in the Origin arena.

“He’s a typical Origin player — he’s tough, uncompromising, and it’s the guy you don’t notice,” Tallis said.

“When you start watching him, he doesn’t make mistakes, he’s always in the action. He goes just in case he’s needed, not because he’s needed. Every collision he’s in, even the tries are around him, the offloads he gets. He’s just got everything you need. He does everything to a level his teammates would love.”

The Rabbitohs were on fire. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Souths coach Jason Demetriou said Graham was “doing what he needs to do to put himself in the frame for rep honours”.

His captain Cameron Murray said he backed the Souths duo of Mitchell and Graham to lock down the Blues’ centre positions.

“I’ve been saying it for a while now,” Murray said. “I think he’s earned it with what he’s done at the World Cup and the start of the season this year. He’s doing everything right and it’s up to the selectors.”

Graham’s former teammate and now Broncos star Adam Reynolds said he believed the centre was ready for the step up to State of Origin level.

“He’s a quality player, he’s played for Australia, that answers your question,” Reynolds said.

“He’s solid every week. You know what you’re going to get from Campbell, he’s a quality player, a great person, great for a team. He certainly wouldn’t look out of place in a Blues jersey.”

Originally published as NRL fans, pundits sure Campbell Graham is going to play Origin