NRL legend James Graham’s emotional reaction to his horror head knock: ‘That’s not normal’

NRL great James Graham faces up to one of the worst head knocks of his career in a new podcast investigation for The Australian exploring sport’s biggest issue: concussion.

James Graham leaves the field with a concussion.

One of rugby league’s greatest hard men is being forced to confront the consequences of his courage.

NRL great James Graham faces up to one of the biggest head knocks of his career in a new podcast investigation for The Australian exploring sports biggest issue: concussion.

The podcast, Head Noise, launches on Monday.

The former NRL player, who played over 400 professional games and suffered around 100 concussions, watches for the first time a confronting tackle which left him unconscious, during the St George versus Brisbane Broncos final in 2018.

Andrew McCullough of the Broncos assists James Graham as he lies concussed during the 2018 elimination final.

“It‘s strange to watch who you were,” Graham says as he watches the final. “It’s only four years ago, but still. It’s strange to think who you once were …”

“What am I trying to prove?” Graham says. “That’s not normal.”

The interview is part of the Head Noise podcast investigation, where Graham has his brain tested and scanned and will reveal the results over the six-part series, as well as interviewing some of the biggest names in sport about their experiences.

Prior to the knockout Graham explained he had told his teammates at the captain’s run the day before that he was; ‘going to go off’. Graham said he had to honour that “promise”. “When you say something like that, you’ve got to do it, I wasn’t going to let them down,” Graham says.

In the opening half of the final he made hard tackles on the likes of then Broncos enforcers Josh McGuire and Matt Lodge in the opening minutes.

“I’m running around like a man possessed,” Graham observed.

Twenty five minutes in, the Broncos are leading 10-8, Graham makes a heavy hit on Korbin Sims, but a “misjudgment” by Graham sees the St George player knocked out.

“I‘m gone before I hit the deck,” Graham says. “It’s strange to watch my immediate reaction to the default. I’m okay. I’m fine. What are you doing? You know, clearly I’m not. But it’s just a. It’s bizarre how I default to that; ‘I’m fine’.’

“I don‘t know whether I’m subconsciously talking to myself, but talking to the doctor. I don’t need to, like; I don’t give me an ambulance. It also a stupid pride thing about not being stretchered off or helped off. I didn’t like that.

“It‘s always something I’d never, never wanted to happen to me. And it’s just like; if you leave on a stretcher, then it’s different.

Head Noise is The Australian's newest podcast investigation.

“Maybe I‘m trying to communicate to my teammates like; oh I’m fine. Maybe I’m trying to communicate to my loved ones who are watching at home that he’s okay. I don’t know, I don’t know what I’m doing …. but I’m clearly putting on a show that I’m okay when the reality is I’m not.”

Graham said while he wanted to explore his brain health, he also wants to drive change for all players, professional and amateur levels.

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Subscribers to The Australian have complete access to Head Noise. Subscribe to The Australian here.

The first episode of Head Noise will be available Monday, September 5 in The Australian’s app. Download the app: (iOS | Android)

Go to headnoisepodcast.com.au to find out more