James Graham has announced he will be retiring at the end of the Super League season, bringing down the curtain on a career of nearly 500 games at the top level.
The former Canterbury and St George Illawarra forward, who left the NRL midway through the season to return to St Helens, has announced his intention to call it a day at the end of their Super League campaign.
With 181 games in the Telstra Premiership, coupled with 234 in the UK and more than 50 appearances for England and Great Britain in the international arena, the 35-year-old has proved to be one of the sport’s true iron man over nearly two decades at the top level.
The Man of Steel winner in 2008, he was also twice named international prop of the year and won the Dally M award for front-rowers in 2012.
"When I first came back to Saints I said I was coming back with one last all-in push for a season. Since that time nothing’s really changed there in my mind with that so now’s the right time to really focus in on the end of the season with this group," he said in his farewell post on social media.
"I’ll be calling it a day and hanging up the boots once this season is finished.
"I’m just really looking forward to these next four weeks and the opportunity, and hopefully taking that opportunity when the time’s right with this group here."
Retiree reflections: James Graham
Graham played 135 games for the Bulldogs from 2012-17, including two grand final appearances, before switching to the Dragons where he racked up another 51 NRL appearances.
He was one of several stars that received a tribute on NRL grand final day last Sunday.
