Official Wade Graham

  • Thread starter Deleted member 3365
  • Start date
Gards

Gards

Jaws
Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
18,517
Reaction score
2,156
Location
At the Tucky
Yea some good points regarding ASADA. For a young bloke might have shook him up a bit (even if his tough exterior and apathy didn't show it) and no doubt a distraction weighing on his mind
 
sharkyboy

sharkyboy

Jaws
Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Messages
15,273
Reaction score
105
Location
N.S.W
The bloke is still only 22.

The best is yet to come. I think we forget that because he has been around for such a long time.
 
evertonshark

evertonshark

Jaws
Joined
Apr 9, 2012
Messages
12,983
Reaction score
61
Location
Goodison
sharkyboy said:
The bloke is still only 22.

The best is yet to come. I think we forget that because he has been around for such a long time.
Click to expand...
He's 23, but yeah seems like he's been round forever. Even though he hasn't been in the greatest form I would be devastated if he ever left the club.
 
sharkyboy

sharkyboy

Jaws
Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Messages
15,273
Reaction score
105
Location
N.S.W
evertonshark said:
He's 23, but yeah seems like he's been round forever. Even though he hasn't been in the greatest form I would be devastated if he ever left the club.
Click to expand...

Hes been around in first grade since he was 18 playing several positions and has only cemented a spot in the backrow in the last year or two.

22/23 whatever Ev haha the bloke could play 300 games and it could be for this club if we look after him and play him right. He has all the skill in the world.

And captain forever as of 2016 but he is getting plenty of experience since Gal is out for 2/4 of a season. He is a MUST re-signing imo.
 
Sharky14

Sharky14

Bull Shark
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
1,808
Reaction score
19
Location
BNE
sharkyboy said:
I believe he debuted at 17 actually as well.
Click to expand...
Sure did, was called in after a bunch of injuries.
Straight out of toyota cup. They were expecting him to be the next Freddy hahah every penrith product is the next freddy. F****** westies.
 
deano the p

deano the p

Jaws
Joined
Sep 21, 2009
Messages
17,993
Reaction score
213
Was talking footy with one of the reps that comes into work and he thought Wade would be in his 30's because of how long he has been around.
 
sharks2010

sharks2010

Dribbler
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Messages
26,493
Reaction score
1,355
Location
North western eastern
Breaking through: Wade Graham in action against Wests Tigers last year. Photo: Anna Warr
Share Adjust font size Read Later
By DANIEL LANE
Ultimate League: It's not too late to sign up for our Fantasy NRL game
Cronulla's Wade Graham, now being pursued by rival clubs and mentioned as a contender for the NSW Origin side, has revealed the role his injured skipper Paul Gallen has played in putting his career back on course after he had lost his way a few years ago.

Graham, who will again fill in for "Gal" as Cronulla's skipper in Sunday's match against Newcastle despite being off contract, is keen to pay tribute to his mentor.

Advertisement


Considered an Origin chance: Wade Graham sizes up the opposition. Photo: Brendan Esposito
"I’d much rather be running out with Paul Gallen in front of me every day and following his lead," the 23-year-old said.

"Captaincy is a position I’ve been put in and I don’t mind it. It sort of suits the way I play, I don’t leave much on the field and kind of play hard, 100 per cent ... never tell a bloke to do what I wouldn't do myself ... that’s the player I try to be week in, week out."

Graham, who would not comment on his contract negotiations, said he appreciated the "lead by example" approach long before Gallen took him under his wing because he was inspired by Petero Civoniceva's captaincy at Penrith, and recalled the awe he felt when former Panthers Tony Puletua and Luke Lewis pushed themselves when it would have been easier to give up.

And while he said his former Sharks teammate Jeremy Smith, now at Newcastle, was cut from a similar cloth, he credited Gallen for helping him with all the facets of his game.

"Gal was the one who got me to Cronulla and he reinvented my game," said Graham. "He taught me a lot of valuable lessons that got me back on track because I'd sort of lost my way there at Penrth, but he got me going again.

"He helped me. The competitiveness, competing every play, having the drive and the will to win, the want to win, to enjoy my footy ... I owe a lot to him."

It was also Gallen's lead that allowed for Graham – and the Sharks – to remain a tight unit when the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigation into a supplements program at the club in 2011 could have destroyed the season.

Graham said playing full-bore football amid the speculation was akin to driving through a thick fog with no brakes. He admitted losing focus probably cost him any chance to play in the 2013 State of Origin series.

"It's obviously everyone’s dream is to do that," he said of entering the Origin arena "A couple of years ago I thought I was on the right path, but with all that went on last year, footy was put second in my life to the off-field stuff.

"This year I feel like my head is cleared and I’m trying to do everything in my power to give myself every opportunity, so if I do get my chance I can take it. I’d love nothing more in the world than to have a crack in one of those sky-blue jerseys."

And while some might see the mess of 2013 as costing Cronulla their opportunity to win their first premiership title, Graham said there was plenty that should give Sharks supporters heart.

"We had a good group last year," he said. "It was tough but we stuck together and while there was a lot of stuff going on we held our heads high, toughed it out, and I think that is something to be proud of."

He also refused to believe that this season, after the club lost Andrew Fifita and Michael Lichaa and as rival teams vie for his signature, was not the last throw of the dice for success in the short-term.

"We have a good core group and while we’re struggling at the moment – we’re not getting the wins across the board – there's a few reasons for that," he said. "Obviously we’re missing eight or nine guys, not just from our squad, but our normal starting 13.

"We just need to work hard and our luck will turn. Once we get our personnel back, we can only control what we can control ... we’ll hopefully string a few wins and give ourselves an opportunity.

"[We know people talk about the team's] potential, that word gets tossed up a lot. It's up to us to take it to the next level. We have to grind through this tough period and hopefully there'll be light at the end of the tunnel."
Click to expand...

Source: http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/le...en-with-career-turnaround-20140329-zqoeh.html
 
Tatus

Tatus

Not-So-Great White
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
10,128
Reaction score
814
Location
South Coast
It was interesting to see over at the kennel that a few of them think Wade should be in the Origin squad this year. Looks like we aren't the only ones who rate him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top