St Helens legend James Graham wrote a letter to his kids “to explain who I was in case I ever had a cognitive decline”

Rugby league has become intertwined with discussion around head injuries in recent years.

Men like Stevie Ward have sadly been forced to retire due to concussion whilst a group of former players are set to take legal action against the sport due to head injuries creating further health complications for them years after retirement.

One man who has been at the forefront of this problem at the moment is two-time Super League Champion James Graham who played over 400 games for St Helens, Canterbury and St George Illawarra Dragons.

A man who suffered around 100 concussions, he has set up a new podcast called Head Noise to educate listeners on the issues stemming from concussion.

Graham has now revealed just how much head injuries plague his mind revealing to the Australian that he wrote a letter to his children “to explain who I was in case I ever had a cognitive decline” in the Australian.

This is because of the many big hits Graham suffered in his career making him concerned that later down the line he may succumb to health complications as he gets older.

He said: “In the autumn of 2015, I wrote a letter to my children, to explain who I was in case I ever had a cognitive decline or succumbed to dementia.

“I was concerned about who I may become.

“I was suffering slight headaches. I was now quite concerned about the repetitive collisions – and I was consumed with thoughts about protecting my head.

“I was actively avoiding situations I once loved on the field. Those big collision moments I was, at times, trying to avoid.”