Judge a player on what he IS and what he DOES - not what he isn't. Both Peacock and Graham are intensely motivated and inspirational to others, but they are also different players with different strengths, weaknesses and attributes. The latter is closer to what Petero Civoniceva was to Australia for many years, whilst the former is cast from the same stuff that Shane Webcke was made of. Both were unquestionably world class players despite playing the game in contrasting styles. Criticising Graham for not being Peacock is like criticising him for not being Greg Inglis. As for his inability to "grab a game by the scruff of the neck" - I'm unsure about what ACTIONS define such play. I suspect you are too.

You can only judge a player by comparison to his peers. Graham, in comparison to his peers (which at this stage is top players at their peak, if he wants to take the next step to become a truly world class player) and in some aspects he lacks the quality needed to make that step. I dont doubt Graham can become as good as Peacock at his peak(though different), but to get there he needs to improve certain aspects of his game. IMO most of the seem mental, and should come naturally to what is still a young prop.


His ability to provide a game defining or game changing play whether in attack or defence. The ability to produce something fantastic when the momentum is against their team. This isnt something we see from Graham as often as we could. Though as i say, this is a mostly mental thing that should come with the increased maturity added experience we hope will bring. This is also something any type of Prop should be able to provide

Again, all bollox. Peacock is the name you roll out at the yardstick, yet there were no moments of such inspirational brilliance from him in any of the grand final wins. Teams win games, not individuals. The key turning points were not caused by Peacock no matter how you try to spin it. Props are not some mythical game turner, they are the platform the team wins games off. The props can lay that platform and the team lose however, they are not the be all and end all.

Graham is Saints best player most games and no other player in SL comes close to him in terms of his consistency of performance or the level of it IMO.

He's a good young prop. Interesting to see how he'd go in the NRL.

He'd be ok. No better than that.

Steven Price said he was the best prop in the world two years ago and he has improved since then so it seems pretty obvious to me that he would be one the the best props in NRL

Graham said at the same time he wasn't at Price's level.
Graham would be very very good in the NRL but he isn't the worlds best yet

Mark Flanangan looks good in the NRL. Makes me sick when people wont admit a SL player is world class because he hasent played in the NRL.

There are many players who have "ripped it up" in SL but have not been able to take that performance to the world stage ie v Australia and New Zealand. They may be best in superleague but they are not the best in the world.

People refer to the NRL as a world benchmark because thats what it is. There are no "easy" games, there is no hiding place, and the players are in the public spotlight 24/7.

The Brits that have gone out there recently are performing because they have the right mental attitude and are coachable.

Graham is a top superleague player and still has time to develop further. However, he has yet to prove himself at international level. If he went to the NRL for a couple of years he could come back here in his prime, like I hope the others will also do. It would be a boost to our game and encourage others to do likewise.

We can listen to Eddie and Stevo harping on but superleague (barring the biggest three clubs) is a pale imitation of the NRL and is not going to catch up until we massively increase youth participation in the greatest game (and the quality of coaching at that level)

As I said, he played the full 80 in '07. The inspiration was sorting out Saints main go-forward man (Fozzard, not James Graham) early doors, after which the Saints pack struggled.

In the internationals he looks for the floor too much, when the referee is allowing a slow playtheball then it doesnt help the england side as much as it does the saints
The image i have of him is stood still making no effort to tackle Lee Smith whilst Leeds score the winning try in the grand final last year

there are an equal number of players who have "ripped it up" in the NRL but have not been able to take that performance to Super League stage.

What a warped image you have.

He ignored Smith because he was clearly so far offside it wouldn't need to go upstairs.

He's the best prop in SL.

Smith was onside. His body was in front of mcguire but his feet were level with mcguire outstretched boot which kicked the ball.

Either way graham was too knackered to tackle smith due taking every single carry of every set.

Quite agree, but that's neither what I said, or implied. There are some imports that came over here and were a complete waste of space, but thats another subject.

The subject is James Graham; to be called best in the world he will have to perform against the best in the world. Like it or not, they (aus) have the best coaches, best systems, best facilities, best players. So if you want to give him the title he will have to outplay the other contenders. That either means go to the NRL and do it week in week out, or do it in internationals.

He is a fine superleague player and has still more potential, but is not yet [i"best in the world"[/i.

To say he is the best in the world is ridiculous. Best in super league - yes.

If graham wants to take it to the next level he needs to play more with his head and less with his heart. He's such a whole hearted player that he put in so much work and carries.

He should save his energy more, take in less carries, but have more impact on the carries he does. Sadly I don't think he's got the forward pack around him at saints to do this. He'll burn out. Sometimes he takes in up to 3 carries in one set and it appears he's trying to single handedly take it to the opposition.

Are we talking about Graham and Peacock now or 3 years ago when one was 21/22 and the other was 28/29?

Peacock was a better prop than Graham then, he isn't now though.

Mancrush alert



I think he is outstanding, although the biggest classless mard a'rse in the game.

Average at best. He'd struggle even to hold down a starting shirt in the NRL.

[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2007&hp1=1885&hs2=2007&hp2=546&stat=tries&season=2010[/url

As the majority of us have stated on this topic, James Graham has to move to the NRL and prove himself in that competition before he can even be considered as the best prop-forward in the world.

Or perhaps wait until the 2013 world cup and outplay all the international props in the competition, oh wait a minute didn,t he do that in the last world cup, picked by an independant panel.
Perhaps opposition fans are using the "prove yourself in the NRL card" to get him out of superleague so is no longer a threat to opposition teams over here.

I haven't seen that, can you provide a link?

My personal reasons for wanting him to go to the NRL are to reach his full potential, then return here in his prime. In the same way I would like to see Ellis and Burgess come back home at their peak.

I am not remotely interested in Superleague who are a bunch of selfish self servers and rarely genuinely think of the good of the game. I want a strong international side that can challenge the others.

Can,t provide a link perhaps other posters can concur with the fact.

I can see Graham going to Oz in another 2 or 3 seasons time, I,m sure some of the aussie clubs will see his go forward attribute as an asset to there team.

Don't think he'll be going anywhere,he loves being at Saints and he's very close to his family.