With Wests Tigers enforcer Aaron Woods set to join Canterbury Bulldogs, it is expected that James Graham will be forced out of Belmore at the end of this season.
Despite the England international’s contract with the Dogs lasting until the end of 2018, the club are unlikely keep two marquee forwards with Graham earning a reported $700,000 a season.
So where next for one of the game’s most familiar faces? Fans of St Helens will be hoping their local lad returns home to be become their marquee player for 2018.
However, Graham told the Sydney Sunday Telegraph he wants to stay in Australia and that he would be “okay” if he was told to move on by the Bulldogs.
Woods, an Australian international and a regular starter for New South Wales, is some five years younger than Graham who turns 32 in September.
Although he may be at the latter end of his career, clubs are likely to be queuing up to secure the services of the Englishman who has made over 100 NRL appearances since 2012.
Reports suggest that Newcastle Knights are the clear front runners at this stage as they look for marquee players to make them finals contenders again.
With a young forward pack in need of an experienced leader, the Knights may well turn to Graham and make him much wealthier in the process.
Whatever happens, ‘Jammer’ has certainly left his mark in the NRL and he will be looking to show who’s boss when he faces his potential replacement Woods this Sunday at ANZ Stadium.
