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 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.
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.
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.
Rick
Guest
But the Bulldogs swapped him for Woods. That's working well.
Kenw
Guest
I thought there were no ordinary comps - even 2016 apparently was tough despite appearances. Especially with that Sharks side weighed down with 4-5 players better than Widdop - they must have been over their cap!
uglykiwi
Roar Pro
Signing of the year. I have a lot of St George mates who just love talking about Hunt as a great signing... And he is. But the best is Graham. Its what he brings to the team, especially those young forwards. At training, he leads, hes hard, he is showing the youngsters what it means to succeed and how to do it; no shortcuts!! You can just see it in the way they play the game. He should have gone to the Roosters!!! I would have swapped him for Cronk any day; we needed a hard front rower....... not backs.
Forty Twenty
Guest
I noticed Widdop making a lot of important tackles against the Roosters and I was very impressed. He has a bad habit in his game however and that is running across field if the defence is tight looking for something that isn't there for him. I tend to think too much of it when things are a bit tough can lower the morale of a team.
Da No
Roar Rookie
More fool the dogs for punting graham to go for woods. Give me graham over woods every time. Whoever woods has played for it's always been in the bottom half. Overrated and overweight and not strong enough.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Hi David, I'll give you mate's rates on a 1-hour session in the Hyperbolic Chamber™ and will also throw in a set of steak knives.
JVGO
Guest
FFS. Their best player is Widdup. The great Saints sides pf the past had 4 or 5 guys better than him. Even the Sharks and Storm sides of two years ago each had 4 or 5 players better than Widdup. Maybe some of the young guys may kick on and become immortals or something and we will look back on this as a great side. For the time being it would be an outstanding effort for them to win the comp. They are very good and consistent across the park....except for Nightingale who is almost dead. Thankfully for them this is a very even and ordinary comp so they do have a chance.
David Lord
Expert
The Barry, are you Paul's echo?
David Lord
Expert
MonkeyMayes, you are the only one comparing Poppa Clay and Gareth Widdop - I certainly didn't. But I'll give you a comparison. Poppa had an army of internationals around him, and all he had to do was feed them, and he did it very well. Gareth is not only the captain, and the best player, but the brains behind everything on the field in attack, defence and goal-kicking. He's the reason why the Dragons have won seven of eight this season, with a lot more to come.
steveng
Roar Rookie
He’s nothing like ‘Sammy B’ far from it. Graham has always run straight up, maybe passed the ball but, takes a tackle(s) consistently. Yes, he might have wacked a few, caused an injury or two ‘unintentionally of course’ lol e.g. Sam B’s jaw break in the GF, which was his signature etc but for me Graham is nothing like the Englishmen that have come to Australia in the past, As far as I'm concerned, Sammy B is right up there and leading that pack and list of e.g. Malcom Reilly, Cliff Watson etc which I saw and enjoyed their style of play immensely, yes they were tough and bordering on being 'indiscriminate louts' lol but, they had their own skills e.g. Tommy Bishop, what an absolute master of the grubber was Tommy, he was an outstanding half and todays great half's are all a carbon copy of him, he was the inventor of the modern halfback style and did things in the 60’s and 70’s that no other halfback ever did or could do. Then we have, Ellery Hanley, speed, hard and deceptive which Addo-Carr is a carbon copy of, they were all hard tough and took no prisoners and wish we had more of them playing in the NRL.
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
...and the resemblance between Poppa Clay and Widdup is uncanny....
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think it's a mistake to compare a side that won 11 consecutive premierships to a side that has won zero...
Paul
Roar Guru
David, I think it's mistake to compare sides from different eras - semi-professional versus professional, more games per season, different rules, 11 premierships versus none for the current side, etc. It's enough to say the 2018 Dragons side is playing some pretty good footy and Graham is clearly an important cog in the team.
Stuart Bywater
Guest
+2 Nat. Graham is an inspirational leader and smart player. His experience will be essential during SoO with all 5 of the rest of the starting pack and Euan Aitken possibles for the Blues squad of at least 19. Plus BH for Qld. The alternative pack could be James Graham, Reece Robson, Leeson Ah Mau, Jacob Host, Luciano Leilua, and Jeremy Latimore. Kurt Mann/Darren Nicholls at h.b. Zac Lomax as centre.
andrew
Guest
Nat, I agree with your comments 100%. Being a leader doesnt mean you you have to rip in as much as the other players to count. Its the level head, experience and presence that motivates the other players. I would pick him over Woods any day.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Even I'm laughing at that line Baz. No team will ever be like them again. Reckon Graham is thriving on the fact he is playing slightly less minutes at the Dragons though. We have so many forwards who play big minutes... means Graham can rip in and then have a breather, which is completely different to life in the blue and white.
kk
Guest
Agree 40/20. He may one day have his own show 'The Fox on Fox' As an unabashed JG fan, I feel he is still a major contributor to those tackles that count.
Albo
Guest
I have to agree. Watching him in his last couple of games, he has been struggling to get up off the ground after tackles. Either he is injured or his old body is really feeling the effects of a long career of heavy contact. I will be surprised if he makes it to September without plenty of "medication". I think the Dogs made the right decision letting him go for Woods who still has plenty of upside.
Nat
Roar Guru
Tell me where to send the chq Con, I'm using that one!
Nat
Roar Guru
It was an educated pick up by Mary for sure. I think his biggest influence is off the field as he's nowhere near the best forward they have but leadership and attitude is guiding the other younger dynamos into playing very good footy, maybe into rep jerseys.That, in itself, is the mark of a quality leader.