PHil Graham

[Horry]

In the crazy mole section today of RLW is states that Graham has been told he can look around for another club as the 'standard salary cap issue' is mentioned.

Didnt mention the fact he cant break the line. I for one really wanted him here this year and have been very dissapointed.

[Guest]

I personally think he has been VERY harshly treated.

He was outstanding for us at the start of the year at centre - his first real bad game in my opinion was that loss against the Warriors. He isn't the best winger because in the modern day wingers tend to be hitup machines. Graham seems to be more willing to drift to look for a gap rather than simply go forward, a method which works when you are built like SKD, but Graham's frailer build means he struggles a bit.

However, to be honest, he still always makes at least 2-3 half breaks a game, he has scored 8 tries, and broken the line 11 times. Over the last three weeks he has had three good games, and his cross-field running on more than a few occasions has led to a half-break, followed by someone like Perrett, SKD or Leilua wreaking havoc from DH.

Additionally, he adds experience to our backline, and doesn't really make any catastrophic blunders in the way that Perrett or SKD seem to be able to do.

If he is to be released, I will have no quarrels with it - I would personally get Leilua onto the wing and develop him into a blockbusting winger in the Daniel Vidot mould - but I still think that a fair bit of the criticism towards Graham, much like it was towards Todd Byrne, is unwarranted.

[Guest]

Leilua is a backrower/centre. Moulding him into a winger would be crazy!

[Headless Chook]

Leilua is a backrower/centre. Moulding him into a winger would be crazy!

They said the same thing when Roy Masters moved John Ribot to the wing.

[Johnny Tobin]

I personally think he has been VERY harshly treated.

He was outstanding for us at the start of the year at centre - his first real bad game in my opinion was that loss against the Warriors. He isn't the best winger because in the modern day wingers tend to be hitup machines. Graham seems to be more willing to drift to look for a gap rather than simply go forward, a method which works when you are built like SKD, but Graham's frailer build means he struggles a bit.

However, to be honest, he still always makes at least 2-3 half breaks a game, he has scored 8 tries, and broken the line 11 times. Over the last three weeks he has had three good games, and his cross-field running on more than a few occasions has led to a half-break, followed by someone like Perrett, SKD or Leilua wreaking havoc from DH.

Additionally, he adds experience to our backline, and doesn't really make any catastrophic blunders in the way that Perrett or SKD seem to be able to do.

If he is to be released, I will have no quarrels with it - I would personally get Leilua onto the wing and develop him into a blockbusting winger in the Daniel Vidot mould - but I still think that a fair bit of the criticism towards Graham, much like it was towards Todd Byrne, is unwarranted.

Have you seen the 2003 Grand Final?

[Guest]

His defence is also sooo underrated it is not funny.

2010 NRL centres - tackle efficiency
Qualification: five games at centre

1. Dane Nielson (Melbourne) - 88.18
2. Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra) - 87.63
3. Alex Glenn (Brisbane) - 87.07
4. Jerome Ropati (Warriors) - 87.03
5. Ashley Graham (North Queensland) - 86.26
6. Blake Ayshford (Wests Tigers) - 85.96
7. Phil Graham (Sydney Roosters) - 85.54
8. Joel Reddy (Parramatta) - 84.97
9. Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers) - 84.85
10. Timana Tahu (Parramatta) - 84.77
11. Josh Morris (Canterbury-Bankstown) - 84.21
12. Jamie Lyon (Manly) - 83.33
13. Matt Prior (St George Illawarra) - 83.08
14. Beau Scott (St George Illawarra) - 82.33
15. Joel Thompson (Canberra) - 80.88
16. Dean Collis (Cronulla) - 79.65
17. Michael Jennings (Penrith) - 79.60
18. Taulima Tautai (Cronulla) - 79.43
19. Brent Tate (Warriors) - 78.92
20. Wes Naiqama (Newcastle) - 78.13
21. Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters) - 77.14
22. Colin Best (South Sydney) - 77.02
23. Jarod Croker (Canberra) - 77.01
24. Beau Champion (South Sydney) - 76.63
25. Steve Matai (Manly) - 75.94
26. Willie Tonga (North Queensland) - 75.63
27. Ben Pomeroy (Cronulla) - 75.34
28. Mat Rogers (Gold Coast) - 75.29
29. Keith Lulia (Newcastle) - 74.12
30. Israel Folau (Brisbane) - 74.11
31. Adrian Purtell (Penrith) - 73.83
32. Junior Sau (Newcastle) - 73.81
33. Clinton Toopi (Gold Coast) - 72.97
34. Jamal Idris (Canterbury-Bankstown) - 70.11
35. Greg Inglis (Melbourne) - 70.00
36. Joseph Tomane (Gold Coast) - 65.70

Also a great decision maker in defence at wing and centre which shows his experience.

[Guest]

Vatuvei, Tuiaki, Williams

[Guest]

Have you seen the 2003 Grand Final?

J.T. in complete and utter fairness to Todd Byrne, if he doesn't get ankle tapped and has a clear run, he becomes a grand final try scorer.

Sattler was damned lucky, period.

And isn't it John Ribot de Bressac, H.C.?

[Headless Chook]

J.T. in complete and utter fairness to Todd Byrne, if he doesn't get ankle tapped and has a clear run, he becomes a grand final try scorer.

Sattler was damned lucky, period.

And isn't it John Ribot de Bressac, H.C.?

It is MD....but I didn't want to show off by putting his full name in, correct spelling and all!

[Guest]

It is MD....but I didn't want to show off by putting his full name in, correct spelling and all!

I looked it up on google. I'm not proud.

[redwhiteandbluester]

Agree 100%, Horry.

I was really hopeful at the start of the year, I always thought he was a good player at Canberra, but he's been a flop. Probably a good decision to move him on.

[fletch]

although not the biggest Graham fan we are moving into dangerous territory by releasing another outside back, that is the one area of the squad we are very thin at.

looking at what we have coming through Naughton has been injured all year so hard to gauge how he would handle first grade.

Justin Carney is coming off a horrific broken leg and it is unknown if he will ever get back to his best.

Towers was never given a shot and now rumours are he is also leaving.

Cheyse Blair very over hyped at the start of the year, it has probably only been the last couple of weeks he has started to dominate at NYC level, still very young and there are questions over his commitment/toughness.

Ben Jones probably the only player Brian Smith hasn't managed to improve in our squad this year, must be on thin ice at the club and if the club is thinking of moving on Graham surely Jones must be in the same boat.

interesting the club is already trotting out the "Salary Cap Pressure" line when we have clearly been out in the market trying to sign further outside backs.

the club is going to be in a very difficult position at the end of 2011 when the likes of Anasta,FPN,SKD are off contract if the team continues to develop next year it is going to be a massive struggle to keep the lineup we currently have let alone going into the market and signing further players.

[Horry]

Fletch - I think the 'salary cap pressure' is always thrown out there when we are looking at signing someone new as well and they probably paid good bucks for Graham. I know he had an offer from ESL and we had to compete with it. I reckon there will be a few more signings yet.

[elo]

Graham will be 30 next year, he is past his prime. (outside back isn't going to get faster or better at this age) Brian will be looking for potential from youth out wide, don't count out kids like Kheirallah, Fine etc.....an offseason under Brian could be all they need.

[Guest]

i think a lot of people here obviously overrate our side tbh. i think our side is very young for the most part therefore considering we let mason go and are yet to replace him, i dont think salary cap pressure is a valid argument from the club especially considering the mumurs on the signings front of players like ferguson who would have had decent pay packets.

In terms of depth in the wingers department, i agree if we lose graham we are probably a bit thin but i am glad we didnt get ferguson in the sense that someone like vuna would have been a better option as he would come for less money and not block any of the young talent from coming through in that he would have to compete for his spot every week whereas Ferguson would have been more or less garaunteed a spot. in terms of the young outside backs, henare wells who is a very fast and talented winger/fullback is in the aust schoolboys side for this year and i think he has plenty of ability and potential. when fit kherrilah and moeakiola have shown themselves to be outstanding prospects as predominantley wingers in the u20s this year and then there is naughton as well who was said to have had the strongest offseason of anyone and was destine for firstgrade before he had his year crippled by injury. Then of course there is young cheyse blair who has had a patchy year but has stacks and stacks of ability so if coached well and blooded at the right time he could be a real gem in the years to come.

so you can see there that there are a few options but in saying that i dont see the merit in signing a player who is already a superstar winger but instead someone who had already proven their worth at first grade level and who could easily nail down a wing berth but at the same time isnt developed enough in their career to prevent some of the younger guys from having a go if he hits a form slump or the younger players are playing better.