James Graham and Alex Walmsley to play in Grand Final
St Helens props James Graham and Alex Walmsley are set to feature in Friday’s Super League Grand Final, coach Kristian Woolf has confirmed.
Woolf confirmed that Walmsley has recovered from a knee injury sustained in Friday’s 48-2 semi-final win over Catalans Dragons and is confident fellow front-rower Graham will be fit enough to end his career in the title decider.
Graham, who is hanging up his boots after a 17-year career, was taken off with a head knock in the early stages of the last match and has yet to be formally passed fit.
“James Graham will be fine,” Woolf said. “Obviously he’s got a seven-day protocol to go through and has to tick boxes each day.
“The doc will have the final say but we’re very sure he’ll be right to play.”
💻 Hear from Kristian Woolf who along with Wigan's Adrian Lam spoke to the media today via video link ahead of the Grand Final! 🏆
The boss had some good news, confirming both James Graham and Alex Walmsley should both play! 💪
Watch FULL press conference on Saints TV 👇
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) November 24, 2020
Woolf says victory on Friday would provide a fitting way for Graham to bow out.
“He’s been a terrific player for this club for a long time and he was a terrific player in Australia,” Woolf said.
“He’s a bloke who gives you absolutely everything in terms of passion and effort, there is no better example for any young forward than James Graham.
“He’d like to make it very much not about himself but we’d love to send him out on a positive.”
Any doubt over Friday’s last match of the 2020 season was removed when both finalists received a virtual clean bill of health from the final round of Covid-19 testing.
The Rugby Football League say, of the 95 tests carried out across Wigan and St Helens, the only positive was from a player in rehab. It means Catalans Dragons can stand down after being on standby.
