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As expected, Bulldogs captain James Graham will join the Dragons next year, after the Englishman confirmed the move tonight on NRL 360.
Graham will join the Dragons on a three-year deal, which he says will see him through to the end of his career.
Graham has played 135 first grade games for the Bulldogs, 5 Tests for Great Britain, and 29 for England.
Broncos fullback Darius Boyd will miss his side’s qualifying final against the Roosters, after Fox Sports’ James Hooper announced that he’s officially been ruled out, and is expected to be replaced by Kodi Nikorima.
The Roosters could be without forward Zane Tetevano for the entire finals series, with the young firebrand facing a 3-game suspension for a high shot on Ben Nakubuwai.
Sea Eagles forward Darcy Lussick appears set to miss his side’s elimination final against the Panthers, after being charged with a trip on Peter Wallace.
Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher only added to the growing Matt Moylan drama, when he described the fullback as being a “50-50” chance of staying at Penrith next year.
Bulldogs forward James Graham looks to have played his last match for the club in their win over the Dragons, with the Englishman believed to be close to finalising a three-year deal to join St George-Illawarra.
Rival coaches have declared the Storm the team to beat in this years finals series (in other news, grass is green; water is wet).
It’s believed that Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire will head to Warrington next season, and be replaced at South Sydney by assistant Anthony Seibold.
Tigers pair Matt McIlwrick and Michael Chee Kam are both facing a week on the sidelines, after receiving charges from their loss to the Cowboys. McIlwrick received a dangerous contact charge, while Chee Kam has been charged with a shoulder charge on Cowboys half Michael Morgan.
Titans hooker Nathan Peats and centre Dale Copley are likely finished for the season, after failing to finish their side’s loss to the Bulldogs with a shoulder and a groin injury, respectively.
Titans prop Jarrod Wallace is also likely done for the year, as he faces a three week suspension for a shoulder charge on Moses Mbye. He’d risk getting five weeks if he were to unsuccessfully fight the charge.
Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has joined Tigers coach Ivan Cleary, and the man himself, Aaron Woods, in insisting that Woods is expected at the Bulldogs next year (so PLEASE, let it go).
Rabbitohs forward Zane Musgrove is facing a week on the sidelines, after being cited for a shoulder charge on Jordan McLean during his side’s pummeling at the hands of the Storm.
Storm skipper Cameron Smith says that fullback Billy Slater hasn’t indicated to him whether or not he intends to play on in 2018.
The Sharks will be sweating on scans for second-rower Wade Graham, after he failed to complete his side’s loss to the Roosters, with what the club are hoping is “just a deep cork”.
New Warriors CEO Cameron George has confirmed that coach Stephen Kearney will remain at the club next year, despite the club’s insipid performances in 2017.
The Panthers will await scans to confirm the severity of a knee injury suffered by fullback Dylan Edwards during Penrith’s defeat to the Dragons. At this point, the club believe it’s a “low-grade medial”.
The Dragons are expected to ramp up their pursuit of Broncos prop Adam Blair, after growing frustrated with the Bulldogs’ “dithering” over the release of forward James Graham.
Blues skipper Boyd Cordner and the man he replaced, Paul Gallen, have both backed Brad Fittler to take over from Laurie Daley as coach of New South Wales, as Fittler shapes as the early favourite for the job.
If you’re wondering who the loser of this month’s ‘prop forward musical chairs’ is, it’s sounding as though it may be the Warriors (is there anything they can’t lose?).
That’s the view of Fox Sports reporter Nathan Ryan, who’s tweeted an update on the three-club pursuit of Broncos forward Adam Blair and Bulldogs prop James Graham.
“Hearing Adam Blair will join the Knights,” Ryan said. “Dragons now working on a deal with the Dogs to bring in James Graham next season.”
If that’s how it ultimately plays out, that would leave the Warriors empty-handed (once again).
In that case, the club may do an about-face, and offer long-term veteran Jacob Lillyman a new deal after all.
According to a report today from Fox Sports, “if he Warriors’ big-money bid to bring Adam Blair home falls short, it’s understood Lillyman may yet be offered another year“.
It’s been reported today that Lillyman has likely played his last game for the club, after suffering a suspected torn bicep on the weekend. However, if the Knights and Dragons get their respective men, that not be the case after all.
At this point, all we can do is wait and see who’s sitting where when the music finally stops.
You can add the Dragons to the list of teams interested in Bulldogs skipper James Graham, with SMH reporting that the club have made enquiries about the pending availability of the Englishman.
According to the report, the Dragons are prepared to offer Graham a two-year deal, while his manager is aiming to secure a three-year contract somewhere, in order to enable him to finish his playing career in the NRL.
It should come as no surprise that the Dragons would be interested in Graham, as the clubs linked to him – the Knights, Warriors, and now the Dragons – are the same ones who’ve been linked to Broncos forward Adam Blair. Blair is expected to make a decision on his next destination soon, leaving the remaining two clubs to duke it out for Graham (who’s not a bad consolation prize; frankly, we’d rather Graham in the first place).
Graham has played 132 NRL matches for the Bulldogs.
