29 replies to this topic

[West Country Eagle]

According to BBC's Dave Woods on Twitter, James Graham is the new England captain.

Discuss.

[Kenilworth Tiger]

According to BBC's Dave Woods on Twitter, James Graham is the new England captain.

Discuss.

Ridiculous - the bloke has zero respect ofr officials based on performances I've seen.

[scotthouston2008]

I'd have gone with Sean O'Loughlin i think. hmmm see what happens eh!

[Griff9of13]

Could be a good move, the extra responsibility may force him to wind his neck in.

Wasn't there a tradition in the army of promoting gobsh1tes to junior NCOs for exactly the same reason?

Edited by Griff9of13, 18 October 2010 - 10:38 AM.

[Soft Olly]

I'd have gone with Sean O'Loughlin i think. hmmm see what happens eh!

Gareth Ellis,would fit the bill for me.

[Mumby Magic]

What a joke.

[Dave T]

Don't agree with it, thought there were some far better candidates, but hey, let's see how it goes. We don't know how he is in training etc. and as has been said, it may calm him down and actually be the making of him.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Shocking if true. James Graham is a poor role model when it come to discipline (i.e. often mouths off to the ref and blows his top). A team under James Graham would be penalised countless times for losing it at the ref.

O'Loughlin, Ellis, Burgess. One of them for me. Burgess I think is an England captain in the making IMO, just maybe not quite yet.

[T-Dub]

Good grief.

1. Leadership?
2. Discipline?
3. Who will take over when he is spelled?

[Trojan]

Could be a good move, the extra responsibility may force him to wind his neck in.

Wasn't there a tradition in the army of promoting gobsh1tes to junior NCOs for exactly the same reason?

I agree. And if they want an example of a wholehearted, committed player they couldn't do better than Graham. I'm a huge fan.

[Wolford6]

The aussies are nervous, so they've put their best man on the case.


Agent "Cobber" McNamara is pulling out all the stops.

[Wendall]

At least Graham can 'speak' to the ref in his role as Captain. This could be a good move I feel.

[usain bolt]

Good grief.

1. Leadership?
2. Discipline?
3. Who will take over when he is spelled?

same person who would have took over when morley was spelled--the vice captain

[Griff9of13]

At least Graham can 'speak' to the ref in his role as Captain. This could be a good move I feel.

The referees may need to refer to this though to understand him.

[dkw]

Massive gamble by Englands coaching staff and one that could turn out to be either a master stroke or complete balls up. If this responsibility changes Grahams attitude and he just gets on with playing and leading then it could be the making of him. Or he might not change and it will have been a complete waste of time and will possibly get the backs up of certain senior players. I suppose we will find out next weekend.

[willy]

Graham was captain of teh academy when they went to Oz and beat the best they had at that time. He shows commitment in every game he plays and the added rest he has had can only improve his performance.
It was pretty obvious at the end of the season that he was knackered and playing way below what he is capable of after carrying the Saints team to yet another final by his efforts throughout the season when Saints have looked very very light in the pack
He also has a useful pair of hands, better than Morley, and obviously has teh aggression other props may lack.
Morley was no tactitcian, he led from the front, and in a forwards dominated style of play Graham is a natural replacement
It may even stop his head going down if England fall behind early, because now he won't want to die wondering

[West Country Eagle]

Graham was captain of teh academy when they went to Oz and beat the best they had at that time. He shows commitment in every game he plays and the added rest he has had can only improve his performance.
It was pretty obvious at the end of the season that he was knackered and playing way below what he is capable of after carrying the Saints team to yet another final by his efforts throughout the season when Saints have looked very very light in the pack
He also has a useful pair of hands, better than Morley, and obviously has teh aggression other props may lack.
Morley was no tactitcian, he led from the front, and in a forwards dominated style of play Graham is a natural replacement
It may even stop his head going down if England fall behind early, because now he won't want to die wondering

All fair points, and McNamara obviously thinks that Graham has what it takes to lead an England side to wins down under, following his success with the Academy. It's a gamble, but it may just be a masterstroke.

I guess we'll find out over the next few weeks.

[Tommy The C5t]

Ridiculous - the bloke has zero respect ofr officials based on performances I've seen.

The only time I'll agree with Kenny.

The way he abused Thierry Alibert during the Warrington vs St Helens games was nothing short of disgraceful.

[Konkrete]

I don't like the look of this at all. However, let's see how we get on, it might just be a masterstroke.

[Gruff]

TBF, Graham is now one of Eng senior players and the only people more senior than him are Ellis and O'Loughlin.

As good a player as Ellis is he seems to quiet for Captain.

Personally I would have had O'Loughlin - but when the going gets tough who is going to step up to the plate? Graham certainly will