PHil Graham

[BUDDY]

I have no issues with Graham staying or if he finds a better long term deal in the ESL.

Providing we replace him with a solid outside back. The NYC guys will still be there and given a chance if Smithy thinks they are ready, like he did with Linnett and BJ at the right time of the year. But depth in the backline is going to be one of our big problems next year because we do have a few ticking time bombs in the team.

I think we will sign a couple of decent players after the like of Jaubs, Lopini, Koups (fingers crossed) and now Graham are released.

[Spirit of 66]

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.

Shouldn't SKD be at the bottom of this list? Why are people like Folau, Inglis, Matai and Tonga below him?

[Guest]

We have a wonderful attacking gift in Pearce and Carney. It would be a travesty to minimise our attacking options with two slow wingers in the team. As long as Graham is replaced with speed I have no problems with it.

[Guest]

Shouldn't SKD be at the bottom of this list? Why are people like Folau, Inglis, Matai and Tonga below him?

I'd say that while Folau, Inglis and Tonga (Matai hits heads, doesn't tackle) are gun attackers, their defense is somewhat suspect.

[Guest]

I guess he's unfortunately surplus to requirements now that we have Linnett and have Carney coming next year.

[Guest]

Smith will introduce other young kids next season. Just generally, people like Tasi, Maliota, Lowe etc. might get a run, especially in the trials.

In terms of outside backs, I reckon we'll see Fine. M, Keirallah (who has been gunning it lately), and Naughton get a shot as well.

We don't need Graham. Experienced, but as soft as they come.

[Guest]

I had visions of Phil Graham being like Brett Mullins was in 2002, mentoring the next generation. Unfortunately he's shown, like Koups, glimpses of talent but not become anything more.

[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.

I'm in total agreeance with you there mate..

[Guest]

Todd Byrne was harshly treated due his lack of speed. However, when I suggested that Perrett whilst being a handy fullback is too slow to be on the wing (probably slower than Todd Byrne!) I copped it from most people here.

And now there is a call for blood for our quickest winger...The irony.

[Guest]

Todd Byrne was harshly treated due his lack of speed. However, when I suggested that Perrett whilst being a handy fullback is too slow to be on the wing (probably slower than Todd Byrne!) I copped it from most people here.

And now there is a call for blood for our quickest winger...The irony.

I don't think Perrett is as slow as people think. The try he scored against Manly showed he has some decent pace. Also I remember against Canberra he turned and chased Dugan quite easily.

Do you consider Dugan slow?

[Guest]

We have a wonderful attacking gift in Pearce and Carney. It would be a travesty to minimise our attacking options with two slow wingers in the team. As long as Graham is replaced with speed I have no problems with it.

Watch Graham's try against the Eels (the one with Hayne chasing Linnett), you can use many words to describe Graham, but slow is not one of them.

[Chook Norris]

Todd Byrne was harshly treated due his lack of speed. However, when I suggested that Perrett whilst being a handy fullback is too slow to be on the wing (probably slower than Todd Byrne!) I copped it from most people here.

And now there is a call for blood for our quickest winger...The irony.

i wouldn't call Perrett slow. He just hasnt had many opportunities to show-case his speed

[BUDDY]

I don't think Perrett is as slow as people think. The try he scored against Manly showed he has some decent pace. Also I remember against Canberra he turned and chased Dugan quite easily.

Do you consider Dugan slow?

Dugan does slow down and I think he is slow after 30-40M. Carney's intercept, he was going at half pace and running away from Dugan 2 lengths to 1 with Dugan at full stretch.

Gordon showed how slow Perrett is. With 10M start he chased him down in 40M. Against Manly, Matai was chasing (or should I say hopping on one leg) and Farrer was the other who was too far away and not the fastest fullback either. Perrett is one of the slowest wingers in the NRL, no two ways about it. But we don't have any lightening quick ones coming through at the moment.

[Guest]

Watch Graham's try against the Eels (the one with Hayne chasing Linnett), you can use many words to describe Graham, but slow is not one of them.

I am not saying Graham is slow. I am saying he is fast and that his replacement should also be fast.


I remember that try quite vividly. He was slightly quicker than both Hayne and Linnett and slowed down to switch to right-hand side of Hayne before taking off again and getting a beautiful pass from Linnett.

[Cockadoodledoo]

Todd Byrne was harshly treated due his lack of speed. However, when I suggested that Perrett whilst being a handy fullback is too slow to be on the wing (probably slower than Todd Byrne!) I copped it from most people here.

And now there is a call for blood for our quickest winger...The irony.

Perrett has his dummy half runs, what did Byrne have?