The James Graham of 3 or 4 seasons ago would have been ripping up the NRL. Having to carry the Saints pack for years may well have taken the shine off his game, and I think the coach is well aware of this.

Good luck to Jammer. I hope he does settle in quickly and make a name for himself.

Would you lot rather he said Graham was the best forward in the game and that he was going to rip the NRL apart? If I was Graham I reckon I know which I'd rather. Think about these things people.

Dont think there's any doubt that he will be a major player over there, quality is quality and he's got plenty.

I think some people are forgetting that Graham is a new signing coming from a different country, thus, he needs time to settle in. From what I can gather he had a lot of impact from the bench in Canterbury's pre season fixtures, which might be a factor in his selection.

No matter who they are, you can't just expect a player to walk into a new side. Hasler is probably just trying to keep his feet on the ground and get him chomping at the bit. He needs to earn his starting place on merit, like everyone else (though I'm sure he will).

Hasler didnt sign him.

He'll probably get the same game time as the other props so not sure what the deal is about his starting on the bench. I was worried he was playing too much gametime in the games I saw when he was at Saints, so maybe this will let him give more when he is on, and prolong his career.

Good call man, just because they can play 60-70 mins, doesn't meant that this should be the norm, game management is the key for all teams to get the best from each player and for the team.

i dont think that it is the fact he is starting on the bench that is the issue, it is the fact that his coach thinks that it will take the best prop in England a while to get up to NRL standard, which is clearly ill informed tosh.

Big difference between 60-70 mins in SL and 60-70 mins in the NRL.

Minutes are longer in Aus - it's all to do with the curvature of the earth.

That makes sense. I haven’t done the maths but they certainly seem to be lagging some way behind the rest of the world.... stuck around the 1980’s

he will smash it up! mark my words. he is the best all round prop we have had in this country for the last 15 years!

they signed him because of his quality, and Hasler is doing the right thing before his 1st game, asking him the question in the media...."are you good enough James?"

James will prove this week in week out, i dont know what the odds are for him to win Dogs player of season, but i might have a look.

He seems to have done OK playing long spells for England against the Aussies. Josh Perry was considered one of best props in the NRL and he looks like a big pudding in SL. Graham will be fine.

If anything, Hasler should have expressed even more caution. I'm sure Jammer will be outstanding, but for example how stupid would Royce Simmons look now if he'd said that Josh Perry had the makings of a decent SL player?