Graham heads towards Saints exit

Graham’s style has won him many admirers in Australia

St Helens seem resigned to losing England international James Graham to Australia’s NRL when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Coach Royce Simmons said they have talked about it and admits he faces a tough battle to keep the prop.

“He loves this club. He’d love to pick it up and drop it into the NRL for a year and have a go,” said Simmons.

“If the challenge is burning away at him, you look him in the eye, shake his hand and say ‘go and do your best’.”

Speaking after Saints’ dramatic 28-24 loss to bitter rivals Wigan, Simmons said it would be “hard to make an argument” to keep Graham at the club if his heart was set on a move, but they would be delighted if he changed his mind.

“He’s won a lot of things here – cups and Man of Steel – and he wants a bit of a challenge,” he said.

“If he decides to stay, well that’s a big bonus for us.”

Canterbury Bulldogs would seem to be his likely destination.

Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg told Australia’s Daily Telegraph: “We are still negotiating and hopefully we can get him. It’s close but we haven’t agreed yet.”