Ex-St Helens, Super League and England star James Graham set for stunning coaching job after being sacked

Former St Helens, England and NRL star James Graham is set for a momentous new coaching role.

Graham has been sensationally sacked by current club St George Illawarra Dragons where he is a mentor for the club’s elite pathways.

However, Fox Sports revealed this morning that the flame-haired Liverpudlian will no longer be at the club in 2023 due to a massive rebuild from top to bottom.

Head coach Anthony Griffin has already decided to get rid of his two assistants, Peter Gentle and Mathew Head, with Graham the third casualty in less than a fortnight.

Now, though, the Daily Telegraph is reporting that Graham is set for a massive coaching gig in the England set-up for the World Cup at the end of the year.

Graham was an ever-present in the England squad throughout his career, earning 44 caps and being an incredibly passionate member of the national squad during that time.

The 36-year-old played 423 first grade games in the Super League and NRL, but will mostly be remembered for his Grand Final-winning exploits with Saints in his final season in the sport in 2020.

That year, of course, the flame-haired enforcer made the switch back to Saints from St George midway through the season with Luke Thompson going the other way to the NRL.

But, Graham would be a massive addition to Shaun Wane’s team as the former Wigan Warriors boss gears up for his first big tournament as the boss of the national side.

Though the 36-year-old has previously reiterated his desire to stay out of a head coaching role, it remains to be seen whether being involved in the England set-up could force him to change his mind.

If not, Graham is still a well-respected member of the Australian media with big gigs on Fox Sports and Triple M.