Lowdesert Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Just thought this was interesting reading. IMO, Saints and SL can be very proud of the lad. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/canterbury-bulldogs/canterbury-bulldogs-prop-james-graham-in-a-league-of-his-own-on-eve-of-milestone-20160513-gou9na.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northamptoncougar Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 World class player - he's individually changed how forwards play the game over the last 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenilworth Tiger Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 nope - Kevin Ward is the best ever export Now then, it's a race between Sandie....and Fairburn....and the little man is in........yeees he's in. I, just like those Castleford supporters felt that the ball should have gone to David Plange but he put the bit betwen his teeth...and it was a try Kevin Ward - best player I have ever seen The real Mick Gledhill is what you see on here, a Bradford fan ........, but deep down knows that Bradford are just not good enough to challenge the likes of Leeds & St Helens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henage Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Was going to say Kevin Ward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowdesert Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 nope - Kevin Ward is the best ever export Man mountain and top bloke. But, remember he only played one season for Manly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunbar Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Mal Reilly and Gary Schofield should be right near the top of the list. "The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby. "If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manfred Mann Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Mal Reilly and Gary Schofield should be right near the top of the list. Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenilworth Tiger Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Man mountain and top bloke. But, remember he only played one season for Manly. True but what a season - still a travesty he didn't win MOM in the Grand Final Now then, it's a race between Sandie....and Fairburn....and the little man is in........yeees he's in. I, just like those Castleford supporters felt that the ball should have gone to David Plange but he put the bit betwen his teeth...and it was a try Kevin Ward - best player I have ever seen The real Mick Gledhill is what you see on here, a Bradford fan ........, but deep down knows that Bradford are just not good enough to challenge the likes of Leeds & St Helens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Toppy Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Graham is very highly regarded in the NRL and I wouldn't be surprised if Bennett names him as England Captain. How many Brits have been club captains of an NRL side before Graham ? (and I mean true captain not just stood in while the actual captain was out injured) St.Helens - The Home of record breaking Rugby Champions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowdesert Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 Graham is very highly regarded in the NRL and I wouldn't be surprised if Bennett names him as England Captain. How many Brits have been club captains of an NRL side before Graham ? (and I mean true captain not just stood in while the actual captain was out injured) Not sure. Mike Stephenson, Tommy Bishop did and maybe Mal Reilly? Would have thought Gaz Ellis and Adrian Morley held the post an odd time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksy Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Bob Fulton. Rugby Union the only game in the world were the spectators handle the ball more than the players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomb Jack Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Kurt Sorenson Widnes - Cheshire's Original Glamour Club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonM Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Dick Huddart played 5 seasons at St. George, they were minor premiers in 4 of them and won the GF in 3. Bill Ashurst was in Penrith's team of Legends. Mal Reilly, Phil Lowe & Knocker Norton all played grand finals for Manly. Tommy Bishop was player-coach of Cronulla for several years, not sure whether they had someone else as captain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konkrete Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 In the recent era, as good as Graham is I'd have thought Sam Burgess would stand head and shoulders above him. Graham has won nothing and his behaviour on the field can be disgraceful at times. Forever in our shadow, forever on your mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konkrete Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 If JT had never won a Grand Final, would that mean he wouldn't be the best ever? Burgess is freakishly strong and powerful, but he hasn't had the same impact on the style of the game. Graham has changed the way prop forwards play (or attempt to play). A fair point, I agree. JT was the catalyst in winning the premiership for the Cowboys last year, no doubt. As the year before Burgess for Souths. So far Graham has been in two Grand finals in which he has won nothing, not inspired his team to victory, inflicted two very serious injuries on fellow professionals in those finals, and half bitten a blokes ear off an received a hefty ban. And all that's before we start talking Vaseline etc.In terms of changing the way prop forwards play I'd say that not only do I disagree I'd say that that statement is 100% wrong. Which players and or teams have changed their playing style to copy James Graham? Btw. In case you were wondering, I think James Graham is a superb player. World class. Forever in our shadow, forever on your mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exiled Wiganer Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Ellery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabbitRhinoovOZ Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Ellery Hanley is the best I've seen but James Graham is outstanding he's worth the price of admission alone. I'd rate Graham the 3rd best player in the world just behind Thurston & Cameron Smith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konkrete Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 But if James Graham for example made 200m and 45 tackles, is he any less of a player just because some of his teammates weren't at his level? And mentioning him seriously injuring people? I never realised head clashes made you less of a player. I think we're seeing increased prevalence of props who can ball-play a bit, particularly in the NRL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bchE8aNaV8o Gus Gould said to Graham "Very players in history can change the way a position is played and the way you've played your position at the Bulldogs is very unique, to the point where it's influenced the way all young front rowers are being taught to play". Gould knows a thing or two about rugby league so I'm inclined to agree with him! Ok. Gould is a great knowledge for sure, but it's your opinion here. Your quote from Gus says 'all young front rowers', which is a lot. Just give me your top three players who play like Graham because of Graham.'Unintentional' inflicted injuries don't make you a lesser player. Attempting to bite people's ears off in a grand final definitely does. Do you think he's the best ever UK export to the NRL? Forever in our shadow, forever on your mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowdesert Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 Phil Lowe, Knocker, Hanley, Edwards, Davies, Platt, Ward, Crooks and others played for a short while only. Do they compare with Dick Huddart, Bishop, The Burgesses and Graham's stints? Did any of the above have the same impact or create the same impacts or plaudits as Graham? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowdesert Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 Ellery Hanley is the best I've seen but James Graham is outstanding he's worth the price of admission alone. I'd rate Graham the 3rd best player in the world just behind Thurston & Cameron Smith. But good as he was, Hanley only played short stints in Australia and he was asleep for part of that time, encouraged by Lamb. Very special player though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmduck Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 You've gotta give Reilly some extra points for 2 GFs a a player and 1 as a coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowdesert Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 In the recent era, as good as Graham is I'd have thought Sam Burgess would stand head and shoulders above him. Graham has won nothing and his behaviour on the field can be disgraceful at times.Props got to have a bit of fire in his belly though K. He's let himself down now and again but so has Sam.IMHO Graham has thrown himself into the Lions Den of Aussie attrition and is the Last Man Standing. I side with you but SB is a totally different player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getdownmonkeyman Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Surprised to see Lee Jackson's name missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubby Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 The guy is a machine. Runs almost 200 metres most weeks and plays as a second pivot. One of the best to play in the NRL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumby Magic Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Sam Burgess maybe?? Hanley, Reilly, Stevo, Morley. Like poor jokes? Thejoketeller@mullymessiah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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