True Blue Wade Graham has announced he will retire at the end of 2023 after 16 NRL seasons, but has nominated a couple of NSW State of Origin memories that stand out in his lengthy career.
Graham played six Origins (2016-2019), alongside eight Tests for Australia.
His first Blues appearance was the Game Three 18-14 win in the 2016 series, which was Paul Gallen’s final match of 24 for NSW.
“Being able to debut in Gal’s last game was an absolute highlight for me,” Graham told nswrl.com.au
“He was my club captain and close friend.”
Graham tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in September 2018, but made it back in time to play the last two games of the 2019 Origin series – won by the Blues 2-1.
In Game Two in Perth the Blues won 38-6 to keep the series alive, with Graham coming off the bench for 56 minutes to replace injured No.7 Nathan Cleary (ankle).
“That game in Perth in 2019 when I had to fill in the halves for half the game… and we won that and then went on to win the series is another big highlight for me,” Graham said.
He had a line-break assist, a try assist, ran for 99 metres and made 13 tackles missing none, acting as the perfect foil for his former Sharks teammate and Blues No.6 James Maloney.
“Wade Graham did a brilliant job. He was incredible,” said Westpac NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler following the Perth win.
“He grew up at Penrith and that’s what you do… he grew up playing five-eighth, back row, centre – he can play anywhere.”
Graham celebrated his 250th first grade game for the Sharks earlier this month. He is just the third in the club’s history to reach that milestone following fellow True Blues Andrew Ettingshausen and Gallen.
He has played 292 NRL games in total including his 42 for Penrith, debuting for the Panthers in 2008 aged 17.
He moved to the Sharks in 2011 and helped secure the club its maiden NRL premiership in 2016, defeating the Melbourne Storm 14-12 in the Grand Final.
The 32 year-old has been captain of the club since 2020.
He started his career at St Patrick's JRLC, Blacktown.
