Graham's a great player but even the most biased of Saints fans must admit his behaviour at times has not been what you would expect from an international player, let alone a captain. Aussie refs simply will not put up with whingeing (to be honest there have been other Saints and Leeds players who have made a habit of this behaviour in 2010, this isn't just a "Jammer" issue).

Let's hope he rises to his new responsibilities. Trying to look at the positives here, he is a world class player and clearly cares about team performance and gives 100%, so if he can control himself then he could make a great leader... this could be an inspired decision.... or a complete train wreck.... fingers crossed, another humiliation at the hands of the Aussies or Kiwis would not be good...

That is just like saying that Sam Tomkins career has been based on trapping players arms with the ball and cheating.

I would agree with that. Getting to the point were Jammer is captain is anything but ideal. To be honest there are not really any good alternatives.

I'm fully backing England although I have low expectations of the tournement but the appointment of an untempermental Graham for captain seems to go against the norm, I hope he learns to shut his gob.

I think he stands a chance of succeeding as capt, I can't see the above being an issue. He won't dare whinge at an aussie ref! I think familiarity breeds contempt in regards to SL refs, realistically how many different refs do our lads, Saints, Leeds and Warrington have each season - it seems that between Ganson, Bentham and Silverwood they get the big teams week in, week out.

I have done a similar thing at my school for the past three seasons, choosing kids who may struggle to keep control of their tempers to captain the team has paid off well in focussing them on the task and performing week in, week out for the cause of the team as a whole!

Personally i'd have picked Lockers or Ellis but if this pays off it is a very astute selection by someone who seems to struggle with the basics of coaching at times!

I don't know about Graham spitting his dummy out. Looking on this board I think it is most of you lot who are spitting their dummies out. I don't know whether it is sour grapes because it is not Lockers or what. Get behind your England team and cheer them on. Club bias does not come into it now. We are all part of one team - Team England.

Well said. But this is the Wigan board, so what would you expect!

And to Wigan fans: James Graham doesn't whine and whinge. He shouts and yells.

However, he also motivates. It was he who motivated Saints to beat you lot at the DW. He did the same thing a number of times during 2010. He loves his rugby, loves playing for his team and loves playing for his country ... and he can [imotivate[/i. With the mandate to motivate given to him, he could turn out to be a very, very good captain. Just so long as he remembers his ps and qs when around the ref.

well said lets give the lad a chance he is a great player what any body would welcome into there team and he will give 110% and lead by example

He was one of my three picks, O'Loughlin and Ellis being the others and in truth wouldn't have complained if any of those were chosen.

As I said on the other thread, it may help him discipline wise, and good luck to him. We won't win the game because Graham is the captain, but we won't lose it either because of his captaincy.

Jammer is the perfect choice, 110 percent effort every game.

As for any discipline issues, I am sure that the extra responsibility will be noted by Jammer and he will act appropriately. Now lets get behind the whole team. Come on England.

Just going to post the same thing myself. Don't know why so many wigan fans are spitting there dummy out, having a fit , want England to lose etc. etc.
Graham will give his all and as captain he will expect the rest of the team to do likewise and show some passion.

Don't have a problem with him being captain, great player who gives his all in any match. Don't think he will repeat his grand final rants when he is captain of his country and in fairness was probably only his frustration and desire to beat us that brought it out, he will have the same desire to beat the Aussies and Kiwi's but think any objections he may have will be more controlled. I wish him the best of luck and hope it brings out the best in him and in the team.

Do you have Saturday's Lotto numbers?



No problem with it being Graham tbh but 'm not a fan of some of his actions.

Hahahahaha. Has he stopped chewing the collar of his rugby shirt like a six year old, the bloody big babbie.

Jeez there are some children on these boards.

You deny he chewed his collar like a sulky bum?
Do you also deny he 'refused' to stick his head in the scrum with 90 seconds to go?
Do you deny he threw away his losers medal into the empty seating area?
Do you deny he had a mass football style tittylip with the referee.

All the attributes required of an England captain, I'm sure.

He's also whinged to the ref on several occasions in other games

Maybe but there are a lot who do know their rugby.

Can you please explain to them how you think James Roby did not replace Sam Tomkins on Saturday, or how many Superleague Grand Finals Saints have won (they did have to tell you on the Leeds board, didn't they) or our favourite one of how the pass to Meli wasn't forward on Good Friday.

If you watch it again, he actually says to the ref - Im not bothered what you say/think!

Child.

typo etc corrected

Why has he been drilling his mates bird?

Something tells me that I seriously doubt that.

I´ll correct the typo, though as predictions go, its probably a pretty safe bet!

Peacock and Morley being injured was a chance NOT to have a prop as captain. Which, in my opinion, ain't ideal.

a. Vital decision time in a game: captain not on pitch...
b. Props more likely to get binned/sent off/injured/bashed senseless.
c. Props don't view as much of a game's tactical development as other players - a lot of it happens behind them.

I know there have been some good prop-captains.

Ellis and O'Loughlin were the obvious choices though.

If you look on the thread on the Saints board, most of the saints posters are fairly reasoned when discussing the appointment, knowing all about Graham's recent pochant for dissent. There's a bit too much temptation to mearly defend our club man against criticism on this board, however.

However, Graham has captained a lot of sides as a developing player including his England age groups.
I don't think many people hear know what the england squad dynamic is and which personalities have the biggest influence in the camp.