James Graham has Saintly incentive as England prepare for Four Nations

James Graham could have been forgiven mixed feelings as his old club, St Helens, ended a run of five consecutive Grand Final defeats at Old Trafford last Saturday night, less than a week after the flame-haired Canterbury prop had suffered his seventh on the bounce against a Sam Burgess-inspired South Sydney.

But Graham’s neighbours in the southern Sydney suburb of Oyster Bay were left in no doubt about the Liverpudlian’s enduring love for the Saints. “The game kicked off about four on Sunday morning our time, so it must have been just after six when Tommy Makinson scored that try and I probably woke up the whole neighbourhood,” said the 29-year-old from the Gold Coast in Queensland, where he has linked up with the England squad preparing for their Four Nations series opener against Samoa in Brisbane next Saturday.

“People have asked me if I was disappointed not to be there but honestly, I couldn’t be happier. It’s been such a long time between drinks [Graham was a substitute when the club last won at Old Trafford, against Hull in 2006] and I was so pleased for some of those young lads to finally experience what it’s like to win one – and, of course, for my mate Paul Wellens to get another one.”

Wellens is the only Saints representative in the England squad, as a member of Steve McNamara’s coaching staff, with last Saturday’s man of the match, James Roby, withdrawing for off-season surgery, and Makinson especially unlucky to miss out.

Graham remains confident that even without Roby and one Burgess – Sam having ended his league career in that brutal battle against the Bulldogs that would have ruled him out of this series even if he had not suffered such serious facial injuries – England retain the quality to spring a surprise.

He dismisses the idea that he might have considered withdrawing himself after the bitter disappointment of yet another Grand Final defeat, having missed out on the England captaincy to Sean O’Loughlin following the international retirement of Kevin Sinfield.

“Coming into camp has really freshened me up,” he said. “There are some young lads in this squad who I’ve never had the chance to train with before, and I’m excited about what we could do.

“It’s not just about me and the Burgess boys – although I’d definitely rather play with them than against them,” added Graham, referring to Sam’s younger twin brothers, George and Tom, who also played for Souths in the Grand Final, and provide mouthwatering options in the England pack.

“Lockers was a great shout as captain, you only have to see the success he’s had with Wigan to appreciate that. I’m more than happy to be representing England again with him as captain – he deserves it.”

Graham is also better qualified than most to empathise with Ben Flower, the Wigan prop who disgraced himself in the Grand Final and is now beginning a six-month suspension. He endured a private hell of his own having been found guilty of biting the Melbourne full-back Billy Slater in Canterbury’s previous Grand Final defeat in 2012, serving a 12-match ban that stretched deep into the following season.

“That’s a difficult question to answer, because I’ve never really opened up so much about that,” he said. “But from my point of view Ben’s been punished, and I just hope he’ll be getting some support to get him through it. I’ve read a couple of articles about the Wigan club standing behind him and that’s important at this time, because there will be all the comments on social media and stuff which is going to happen in a democratic world where fans are entitled to an opinion. I hope he’s OK.”