'Built for Origin': Why teammates are backing Graham for Blues call-up

South Sydney Origin stars Cameron Murray and Damien Cook believe teammate Campbell Graham’s work rate and resilience makes him ideally suited for a place in the Blues squad.

Graham has the rare distinction of playing for Australia before playing for NSW after receiving a surprise call-up in last year’s World Cup, and Murray and Cook insist he is ready for the Origin arena.

With Jack Wighton’s decision to stand down from representative selection, Blues coach Brad Fittler is seeking a replacement and Murray and Cook say Graham has the attributes that make a good Origin player.

Murray declared Graham “built for Origin”, while Cook praised him for doing the “dirty work” that other players appreciate by taking tough carries near his ow line, as well as being a strong defender and good under the high ball.

“We pretty much use him as a battering ram. He is another forward out in the centres," Cook said ahead of Thursday night's match against Penrith at Accor Stadium.

“He is so good at supporting his team-mates, rucking it out and then taking the next carry in the worst possible places on the field; coming off your own line when they all know you are getting the ball and they are flying off the line to bash you.

“That’s all you do in Origin. You are just bashing it up off your own line, waiting for that one opportunity to score a try or waiting for the opposition to make a mistake.

“He is someone I look for here to get us out of trouble, he is always looking for yardage carries and looking to get us up the field. He always puts his hand up to take them and he always get us on the front foot.”

Murray played alongside Graham at the World Cup and the Kangaroos vice-captain said he had been close to forcing his way into the side for the final at Old Trafford.

The 24-year-old had been preparing to play for Scotland, where his father Stewart was born, but instead made his Test debut against the Bravehearts in Coventry – the birth place of his mother Lisa – and enjoyed a game to remember.

“Campbell Graham is built for Origin,” Murray said. “I think he proved his worth on the biggest stage in the World Cup last year, and he was pretty close to playing in the big games towards the end of the tournament.

“I think he was only one or two injuries off from playing in one of the biggest games of our lives.”

So highly valued is Graham by the Rabbitohs that he is often rested from the team’s first training session each week to give him time to recover from the battering he regularly cops in matches.

“In Origin you have got to be strong in defence and he is one of the best defensive centres in the game,” Cook said.

“There are times when we have versed big back-rowers who are going to do a good job, and his role is to look after the halves out there. He has always stood up to the challenge and got it done.

Defensively and in attack, when the hard work is there, he is the one doing it.

“I think he showed in the World Cup, and at times when he has played there for us, that he can do the job on the wing, as well.”

Cook paid tribute to Wighton for his versatility and said he would be missed by the Blues this season.

“He didn’t need a position, you just needed to have him in the side,” Cook said. “He is a footballer and you would find a way to have him in the 17.

“He gets the job done no matter whether he is playing in the middle or playing in the centres or on the wing. That is why you have seen offers for him to play lock and other clubs wanting him to play fullback or five-eighth.”