Inside Graham's dream to turn USA into international powerhouse
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Emerging Knights hooker Harrison Graham has backed plans to grow rugby league in the USA as he looks to represent the nation at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old's grandmother and mother are American, with the pair moving from Vermont to Australia when Graham's mum was a child.
The family settled in northern NSW and quickly embraced the laidback coastal lifestyle, and the sunny weather, but they have maintained strong connections to the United States.
Graham has been in contact with USA coach Adam Woolnough to express his desire to represent the nation and he hopes to feature in a tour of the UK at the end of the NRL season.
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"Playing for the USA is on the bucket list, it's something I've always wanted to do," Graham said. "Since coming to the Knights, someone gave me Adam Woolnough's number, he's a Knights old boy and we connected.
"Going on that tour is something that's in the works and I'm pretty excited to represent the US."
Match: Knights v Warriors
Round 3 -
home Team
Knights
7th Position
away Team
Warriors
1st Position
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Graham made his Knights debut in last week's victory over Manly and has again been named on the six-man bench for Saturday's clash with the Warriors.
The match will be played during Multicultural Round and provides the 24-year-old with a chance to represent his US heritage.
America has emerged as a key growth market for the NRL, with the organisation launching their season in Las Vegas in the past three years.
The event has been a major success, with crowds at Allegiant Stadium continuing to grow and fans descending on the city to back their teams.
Beyond the actual matches, the NRL has also invested heavily in grassroots and school programs to introduce more Americans to the sport.
While still early days, the signs are promising that momentum is starting to build throughout the US. There is talk the nation could host the 2030 Rugby League World Cup in a move that would accelerate the game's growth.
International Match: USA Hawks v Scotland Bravehearts
Graham's Knights were one of four teams to travel to Vegas this year, however the youngster was forced to watch from afar after missing out on a place in the touring squad.
It was a bitter blow for an emerging talent desperate to return to the US but he remains confident the NRL can capitalise on a sports-loving public in the coming years.
"You want to be in that Round 1 team but they only took 22 and when Justin [Holbrook] told me I just missed out, I was disappointed but I just kept working hard back here in Australia," Graham said.
"Unfortunately I just missed out on going over to Vegas with the Knights but it's cool to see the game expanding and we're showing how good our game actually is. It's exciting and hopefully it keeps growing over there."
The USA national team played Scotland in Las Vegas on the eve of the season opener, claiming an impressive 28-20 win.
Woolnough is determined to ensure the victory is just the beginning and is working hard to connect with more Australian-based players with US eligibility while also improving the standard in the American domestic competition.
Graham isn't the only player of US heritage in the NRL, with Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo playing for America at the 2019 Nines World Cup and boom Tigers rookie Heamasi Makasini also eligible to represent the nation.
NRL Best Moments - Las Vegas
Woolnough's long-term goal is to ensure USA qualifies for the next World Cup before the focus turns to building the country into an international rugby league powerhouse.
"When I spoke to Adam he said he was gathering a pool of names from Queensland Cup, NSW Cup and the NRL of people who are eligible," Graham said.
"He's got quite a few names and with the game expanding over there, they've got some players over there who represent the US and are improving so the US can be a competitive nation.
"Once he's gathered the squad, we've got the games in Scotland at the back end of the year and then the next focus is to improve our world ranking. If we can get some more players in the US team, we can improve our ranking and push for the World Cup."
America's end of season tour will likely see the Hawks take on Wales and Ireland as they look to build their world ranking and qualify for the 2030 World Cup.
It's a stage the USA has impressed in the past, with the nation progressing to the quarter-finals at the 2013 World Cup however their last appearance came back in 2017.
With Graham on board, Woolnough is optimistic more Australian and English-based players will put their hand up to represent the nation as they look to snap that drought.
"Harrison has a strong desire to play for the US and that was clear the first time I spoke to him," Woolnough said. "That's contagious and it's meaningful. He doesn't live there but his mother was born there and he has strong ties to the US.
"He wants to represent his mother's family and he's only 24 so he's still early in his career. That's a powerful message that if we do qualify for 2030, we want people like Harrison involved in the group now, not in four years time.
"We want them to come along the journey with us and he's given that indication he wants to come on the journey. From my side we're trying to build that strong connection in the group and it starts with having people committed like Harrison is."
