Given the tackling technique displayed by the Aussies in the 4 nations , I would suggest you are right , smashing people in the face will batter him

Not better than Ellis either, as good but not better.

Paul Gallen in the Four Nations final:
ran 141m
43 tackles
21 hit ups

Graham:
134m
19 hit ups
35 tackles

To put things into perspective:
peacock ran for 62m
ellis 64m
matt scott 46m

Hardly a bad game, was it?

Jammer will go fine in the NRL,tough bugger who can take anything thrown at him,his team mates and coach will think he is a godsend IMO.

Eggggsactlee

Looking foward to see how he goes over there, I hope he does well. He has shown he can mix it with the best of Australia and NZ so im sure he can cut it in the NRL.

I'm not that sure he'll cut it. Ok, he can tear it up against SL sides but the last few times I've watched him play against Wigan he's looked shattered. He starts well but the game seems to take it's toll quickly and he begins to look like a 36 year-old prop, not a 26 year-old. He runs in, gets clattered and takes an age to get to his feet - or as my Mrs puts it, "he gets up like an old, broken man".

If he goes back to the basic prop role and makes sure he rests and recuperates properly before the season starts he'll do ok. Even so, he'll need to lift his strength, speed and fitness to another level.

I think thats more down to Saints overusing him (and Roby for that mattter) in each match and across the season. Sure each are more than good enough to play long minutes and rack up absurd stats in SL, and maybe that is a strength over others, but personally I don't see that as stable in the long run. Hopefully the NRL will use him more effectively - still as a workhorse but maybe not as a man carrying an entire pack. Either way he will play less there, as there are less games, and have forced rests in bye weeks - so with just that we will see a better Graham in internationals.

Of course it's silly to say he won't make it, he will easily be one of the best props there, providing he stays fit, because he's one of the best props anywhere.

I think you need to factor in that he has played with a back injury for the past 3 months, so a bit of recuperation and the fact he will not have to carry the pack like he did at Saints, he should go OK.

Graham will go okay, I'm 50/50 on him. He's a strange player to evaluate because he can go by in a game without being noticed. He's what I'd call a stealth forward, in that you'll think he's had an ordinary game, no mistakes but nothing of note -- Then you see the stats and without fail he's the leading forward on the field for metres. He also has a good try rate and can put people through a gap. But he goes about it in a way that's unimpressive to the untrained eye.

In saying that I agree with some of the criticisms of him above. He seems, lately at least, incredibly slow. Outside of his handling and game knowledge he looks like any fat bloke from the pub running at the line at half-speed and lacking general explosiveness.

I think he'll go well in the NRL, but I'm not sure how well. If he is to succeed I think he'll need a settling in period, I could see him having an underwhelming first year, in relation to the very high standards expected of him.

Maybe some time down under is just what he needs.

He'll be fine. The Aussies understand RL unlike many in the British game who still seem to think people who look flash are the best. Australia ran away with the 4N final when he was off the field. Won't make the impact Morley did IMO but should show up as well / better than Ellis.

Poor trolling attempt!

As one of the world's best forwards, I'm sure he'll be able to do well in the league

I hope so. Those problems have definitely shown whenever I've watched him, in the tougher games he's certainly struggled at times. Agree he's class when he's fully fit and hopefully the Aussies will raise his level that much more.

All i can say is Good Luck to James for next season...

I think he will get battered if he doesn't he'll have to alter his running in technique. His technique is pick a spot, get on all fours asap and play the ball. The problem with this type of technique is that the ozzies love coming in late (by SL standards) and he will cop more than his fair share of facial/head shots when he is on his way to the ground. Watch the 4N final for perfect examples.

For those who think he won't be able to make the yards down under, here are some stats from the recent series against the best the Aussies and Kiwis could offer. (The type of players he will be up against week after week). Just click on the 'Leading player graph' tab to see his awesome stats. In the 1st match made more yards than any Aussie or English forward on the pitch! Again against NZ he made more yards than any other forward on the pitch! In the final Gallen and Thaiday where the leading metre makers, but Graham was only 7 metres behind! www.rleague.com/live/nrl_50820110104.html www.rleague.com/live/nrl_50820110105.html www.rleague.com/live/nrl_50820110201.html Oh, by the way in the 1st match against the Aussies, when he made more yards than any other forward, he did that in just 40mins. He never even played in the 2nd half due to his back injury. Amazing don't you think.

For those who think he won't be able to make the yards down under, here are some stats from the recent series against the best the Aussies and Kiwis could offer. (The type of players he will be up against week after week). Just click on the 'Leading player graph' tab to see his awesome stats. In the 1st match made more yards than any Aussie or English forward on the pitch! Again against NZ he made more yards than any other forward on the pitch! In the final Gallen and Thaiday where the leading metre makers, but Graham was only 7 metres behind! www.rleague.com/live/nrl_50820110104.html www.rleague.com/live/nrl_50820110105.html www.rleague.com/live/nrl_50820110201.html Oh, by the way in the 1st match against the Aussies, when he made more yards than any other forward, he did that in just 40mins. He never even played in the 2nd half due to his back injury. Amazing don't you think.

Graham is a machine and one of the best props in the world; he'll do just fine in the NRL and they'll love him.

Just hope he gets good advice on skincare - they suffer in the sun don't they, them ginners?

I already hear that their new coach Dessie Hasler is not impressed with that signing. He will be looking at long spells in the reserves.

Im looking forward to seeing him trying to pivot and offload at the line in the NRL, I suspect he'll get more than a few clouts around the clops if he gets too close to the line ala "The King" with Wakey back in the day.

Well done. You've succeeded in displaying your utter ignorance. Graham's work rate is immense. He would walk into any SL team and I have no doubt will acquit himself well in the NRL.

He'll get by on work rate alone. Hopefully, he can add a bit more power to his game. He'll do well.

KiwiShane got a new ID then?


Troll. And pish poor at that.

Well,,Seeing Hasler has just gone to the Bulldogs and has never met the bloke yet...that seems a bit strange to me....

The thing that Pi$$es me off about this is there are a lot of *Fans* out there are hoping he will get *Battered*,,FFS,,the bloke gave his his all in the WCC and for Saints this season..Now he is trying his luck in the NRL next season which,lets face it,is a Big Step Up from Superleague and still the knockers want to hope he gets hammered..The Mind Boggles at you Lot Honestley!!!!!...The guy is English..Lets hope he makes his mark over there...

He'll probably need to change his style a bit - a bit more dynamism running the ball and do less of the stand off work he has done for Sts. I can't see any reason why he won't do well.