The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

James Graham was lucky to be punted by the Dogs

25th April, 2018
Advertisement
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Expert
25th April, 2018
25
1716 Reads

When the Bulldogs punted Englishman James Graham at the end of last season after 135 games of loyalty and dedication over seven seasons, it was a shock. But the surprise decision has turned up trumps for Graham.

While the Dogs haven’t raised a bark this season languishing near the bottom of the table, Graham’s new club with the Dragons are roaring along at the top of the table with seven wins from eight starts.

In the process the famous big red V club has clocked up 230 points to just 108 – a comprehensive 122 points in credit so early in the season.

And the 32-year-old Graham has blended in so well, it looks as though he’s been a Dragon all his life.

Having had the privilege to watch the original Dragons before they were amalgamated with Illawarra, the current crop is starting to look like the originals during their record-breaking 11 successive premierships from 1956 to 1966.

James Graham

James Graham of the Dragons. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

What a magnificent era that was, never to be repeated.

There were ten teams in what was known as the NSWRFL premiership, with home-and-away games every season for 18 games in regulation, and the match of the day was always at the SCG every Saturday.

Advertisement

St George was so dominant, the big red V virtually lived there, recovering the next day with no Sunday games.

There was Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands, Eddie Lumsden, Johnny King, Poppa Clay, Bob Bugden, and Billy Smith shining among the backs, with Johnny Raper, Norm Provan, Harry Bath, Ken Kearney, Billy Wilson, Monty Porter, Ian Walsh, and Kevin Ryan, to name a few, doing all the hard work up front.

Needles to add they were all Kangaroos.

Of the 198 games played in regulation during that 11-year blitz, the Dragons won 161, drew four, and only lost 33 – an 81 per cent winning ratio.

They accumulated 4593 points, gave up 1932, to be a massive 2661 in credit.

The only time St George weren’t minor premiers was in 1961, when they were pipped by Western Suburbs, their closest rivals.

Both teams finished the season on 15 wins and three losses, but Wests scored 390 points, gave up 181 to be 209 in credit.

Advertisement

St George scored 367 and gave up 167 to be 200 in credit, but the Saints won the game that counted – the grand final.

It was an era of unlimited tackles, but from 1967 limited tackles were introduced to try and stop St George’s extraordinary winning streak.

And that’s exactly what it did, the Dragons didn’t win another premiership until 1977, and 1979, then another gap until 2010 as the amalgamated club.

Current coach Paul ‘Mary’ McGregor, a former Dragon, has his fingers crossed 2018 will be a repeat, but the Storm will have something to say about that.

Grand final success would be even more appreciated by newcomer James Graham.

He lost five successive grand finals with St Helens that became seven when the Bulldogs lost the 2012 and 2014 NRL deciders, and eight when England lost the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final to the Kangaroos.

It would be fitting if Graham can break the drought by breathing fire as a Dragon.

Advertisement
close