James Graham on emotional Saints farewell & owing Welsby beer for life

James Graham admits winning the Grand Final in the last seconds of his career put a lot of things to bed and says he owes Jack Welsby beer for life after his match-winning heroics.

The veteran forward enjoyed the dream end to his playing days when Welsby grabbed a dramatic late winner for St Helens against Wigan in 2020. Graham had previously lost six Grand Finals in a row.

Graham opens up on the emotional backdrop to that fairytale finish on the latest Love Rugby League Podcast, and says he will forever be indebted to youngster Welsby for handing him the perfect send off with his try on the final hooter. 

“It’s probably a good job I live in Sydney because if I lived anywhere in close proximity of Jack Welsby I’d be at his door every day shaking his hand, saying thank you, jumping on him and buying him beers,” he says.

“That game put a lot of things to bed for me and put me at peace with a few things that had happened throughout my career.”

James Graham on finishing his career on a high

Graham lost five Super League Grand Finals with St Helens and another with Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL, before tasting defeat with England in the 2017 World Cup Final. 

His emotional return to finish his career at Saints then saw Welsby produce a thrilling finish to touch down on the hooter after Tommy Makinson’s drop goal attempt struck the post. 

“The end was incredible,” says Graham.

“I didn’t want to make it about me and was very careful when I came back as I’d made my name at St Helens and they weren’t going too good. 

“When I was speaking with Mike Rush and Kristian Woolf it was in the middle of lockdown and we weren’t even sure the season would continue.

“Then to get to that last game, and Tommy Makinson decides he’s going to miss the drop goal. Is that not the best try assist you have ever seen in your life?”

PODCAST: James Graham on World Cup, Saints farewell and life after league