James Graham can count himself lucky
Columnist 
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs James Graham. AAP Image/Cameron Spencer
Related coverage
Bulldog James Graham got off lightly last night for two reasons when the NRL judiciary suspended him for 12 matches for biting Storm fullback Billy Slater’s left ear during last Sunday’s grand final.
Firstly, Graham plead not guilty when all the evidence was so damning.
And secondly, the 12 weeks were only four more than another Bulldog, Brad Morrin, copped for pleading guilty and was remorseful for biting Timana Tahu’s arm in 2007.
A big difference between the two charges sitting on the judiciary’s table.
The judiciary virtually made it eight NRL competition weeks by including two Tests Graham would probably have played for England in the coming northern winter, and two NRL trial games next season.
As it sits, Graham’s first game next season will be in round nine, a third of the season lost, instead of round 13 over halfway through.
It will be interesting to see ARLC chairman John Grant’s reaction to the leniency.
Grant still has to reach a decision on the “Mad Monday” Bulldog culprits to end a nightmare week for the minor premiers on top of losing the decider.
Both Graham, and the still-to-be-named culprits, suffered brain explosions to overshadow their marvellous achievements throughout the season.
Damn shame that, but the players have only themselves to blame.
Passionate about your league? Then sign up to The Roar's brand new daily league email, delivering Roaring articles directly to you day-in, day-out. You'll love it!
Click here to join now!
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
- Explore:
- James Graham, NRL, Rugby League
October 5th 2012 @ 2:49am
Steve said | October 5th 2012 @ 2:49am | Report comment
I doubt James Graham can count to 10,
never mind count himself lucky.
October 5th 2012 @ 5:58am
Fred Flintstone said | October 5th 2012 @ 5:58am | Report comment
Steve, congratulations regarding your insightful remark. Do you make assumptions like this for everyone that you don’t know? If so, then it must be great being you….
October 6th 2012 @ 2:22am
Steve said | October 6th 2012 @ 2:22am | Report comment
Well that’s me told…
I assumed from the fact that he comes across as a vaseline-legged semi-literate thug in interviews, and the fact that he decided to disgrace himself, his club, his code and his country by biting someone’s ear in front of thousands of spectators, millions of viewers and hundreds of cameras, that he’s not operating on genius levels of intelligence and restraint.
I’m probably wrong though
I also assume Stalin had an authoritarian streak, and Stephen Hawking is clever— despite never having met them. You’d never do something as prejudiced as that though- there’s no player or coach you dislike, apart from those you’ve met, right?
October 8th 2012 @ 5:34pm
SkinnyKid said | October 8th 2012 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
Boom….have some of that Fred.
Well played Steve.
October 5th 2012 @ 6:09am
steve b said | October 5th 2012 @ 6:09am | Report comment
yes i said 8 he got 12 time to move on !
October 5th 2012 @ 8:32am
Mals said | October 5th 2012 @ 8:32am | Report comment
Yep but it ends up being 8 NRL games. Could have been much worse…
October 5th 2012 @ 6:23am
cjones said | October 5th 2012 @ 6:23am | Report comment
Have there been any pictures of Billy Slater’s ear afterwards, on tv or in the papers?
October 5th 2012 @ 6:28am
M.O.C. said | October 5th 2012 @ 6:28am | Report comment
The best/worst part of the whole saga is how he “100%” did not bite him! – great, a biter and a liar. Foran got absolutely bagged for his fib about not touching the ball in the cowboys game – mental note: never play poker against an NRL player!
October 5th 2012 @ 11:51am
AdamS said | October 5th 2012 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Funny stance given the obvious evidence.
I’ve seen guys in hamburger commercials who haven’t managed to chow down with such gusto.
October 5th 2012 @ 6:32am
Crosscoder said | October 5th 2012 @ 6:32am | Report comment
12 weeks an appropriate penalty.Leniency !!! Misses out on representing his country as captain,name tarnished whilst he plays the game,and costly from a match payment’s perspective.Why the need for Gran’s involvement is beyond my comprehension.Move on.
It appears one only Dog’s player(still one too many) was involved ,the others either staff or hangers on.He needs to own up.
Jim Wilson on ch7 noted “people have been going off at a tangent that is was all Dog’s players,which is incorrect.My station did not make public accusations and wont until the full facts come out.”. After some previous public comments on this site re Stewart as an example, would attest, to shooting from the hip without the full facts.
October 5th 2012 @ 8:42am
mushi said | October 5th 2012 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Crosscoder I’m with you here – David has treated a test match in the same vein as a trial match in this article which is just baffling to anyone who’s followed sport at any level in any country in any capacity let alone a long term jounro.
October 5th 2012 @ 7:22am
oikee said | October 5th 2012 @ 7:22am | Report comment
A biter not a fighter.
I thought he gave good evidence, and has maintained his innocence.
Time to move on, 12 weeks for a nibble, interesting for the next biter. I hope it is a NSW blues player, i will get down and dirty and do the moon doggy to see him punished to the full.
October 5th 2012 @ 9:33am
Red Rooster said | October 5th 2012 @ 9:33am | Report comment
He munched it!
October 5th 2012 @ 7:44am
John 360180 said | October 5th 2012 @ 7:44am | Report comment
Only 12 weeks!
Time to move on? The games gone backwards over the last week. Which direction do you want us to move?
He bit someones ear! Said he didn’t do it.
Kids get expelled from pre school for the same thing.
October 5th 2012 @ 8:25am
steve b said | October 5th 2012 @ 8:25am | Report comment
10,000 fans voted on the telegraph poll 64% said that was a fair sentence !
October 5th 2012 @ 9:08am
Happy Hooker said | October 5th 2012 @ 9:08am | Report comment
You know you’re in trouble when you have to use the opinions of Telegraph readers to support your argument!
October 5th 2012 @ 9:43am
steve b said | October 5th 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
i don’t have an argument , just the fact’s !
October 5th 2012 @ 8:08am
Col Quinn said | October 5th 2012 @ 8:08am | Report comment
It is my understanding that medical evidence produced at the hearing demonstrated that because Graham does not have bottom teeth, he wears a plate, and he has missing and or broken upper teeth, it was highly unlikely that he could have bitten Slater’s ear. He was also wearing a mouth guard. If I were Graham I would look for an avenue to appeal to that accepts medical evidence as opposed to media hysteria and indecisive video.
October 5th 2012 @ 8:32am
Christo the Daddyo said | October 5th 2012 @ 8:32am | Report comment
“it was highly unlikely that he could have bitten Slater’s ear”
So how does he eat?
October 5th 2012 @ 8:45am
Col Quinn said | October 5th 2012 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Like all of us with false teeth. We put them in a meal times.
October 5th 2012 @ 9:34am
Renegade said | October 5th 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Col,
You don’t actually believe that do you?
He clearly took a bite out hence why Slater made the complaint on field and the evidence was his ear.
12 weeks is fair.
October 5th 2012 @ 9:42am
Col Quinn said | October 5th 2012 @ 9:42am | Report comment
He took a gum not a bite
October 5th 2012 @ 10:33am
Kim Hart said | October 5th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Irrelevant. Just because he was unable to remove Slaters ear doesn’t mitigate the intent.
October 5th 2012 @ 12:06pm
Col Quinn said | October 5th 2012 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
When I was working in mines in some of the brawls I saw between miners in some third world countries I saw some horrendous damage caused by bites. This was often doe by men with as few teeth as Graham. I am still not sure that he was biting. To my elderly eyes he appears to be yelling in Slater’s ear. Graham should appeal.
October 5th 2012 @ 1:35pm
Renegade said | October 5th 2012 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
If Graham appeals…..i hope they give him another 12 weeks on top of it.
There is no doubt that he had his mouth firmly gripped around Slater’s ear….teeth or gum doesn’t matter – it’s rugby league and he had intent on grabbing slaters ear with his mouth.
October 5th 2012 @ 2:20pm
Col Quinn said | October 5th 2012 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
Renegade,
I hate to say this but love at first bite!
October 5th 2012 @ 8:14am
db swannie said | October 5th 2012 @ 8:14am | Report comment
DL,cant you find something new to write about.
Your One man crusade against JAmes B & John G is getting tiresome.
He was given a suspension that most RL fans think is about right ,but you still go on with the crusade & cant seem to mention NRL without having a potshot at John Grant.