'I was just a nobody kid': Emotional Graham gives Golden Cap to junior club
James Graham choked back tears as prepared to present the Golden Cap he had just received as one of just nine players to achieve the 50 Test milestone to his junior club, Thatto Heath Crusaders.
Graham played 51 Tests for England and Great Britain, as well as more than 400 matches for St Helens, Canterbury and St George Illawarra, but he never forgot where he came from and wanted to thank those who helped set him on the path to achieving many of the game’s highest honours.
In England for the World Cup, Graham requested that the presentation be made at Crusader Park so he could immediately hand over the Golden Cup to Thatto Heath officials in the hope of inspiring the club’s junior players to aim for the top, like he did.
After receiving his Golden Cup from RFL CEO Ralph Rimmer, on behalf of International Rugby League, Graham stood motionless with tears streaming down his face before presenting it to Thatto Heath vice-chairman Dave Yates.
Thatto Heath officials and supporters turned out to see Graham receive his Golden Cap (Photo:Bernard Platt)
“I needed a moment to compose myself,” Graham said. “It was incredibly emotional receiving my Golden Cap at the place where it all started for me and I couldn’t hold the tears back.
“I specifically asked if the presentation could be held at my first club, [because] it is places like Thatto Heath give people a chance in life.
“The cap is the most unique thing I’ve ever been awarded and, for me, it was important to give it back to them to be able to display it so that, hopefully, it might inspire other kids that anything is possible.
“I was just a nobody kid from Maghull who got given an opportunity to come here and play rugby league and I fell in love with the sport because of how they made me feel a part of something.
“Our game is built on places like this and it’s important we recognise that. I went on to play for St Helens and 53 games for my country, and in the NRL, but if it wasn’t for this club I dread to think where I’d be.”
In return, Graham was presented with a Thatto Heath Crusaders jersey.
Rimmer also paid tribute to Graham as “an absolute warrior of the sport, on and off the field”.
“This is the ninth of these caps to be awarded, that’s how special it is,” Rimmer said.
“I was there when you achieved the mark in New Zealand in 2019 and I am really, really pleased to present this to you for everything you have done for the sport and your 53 Test appearances. It is a fantastic achievement.”
Graham is presented with a jersey from his junior club (Photo: Bernard Platt)
Graham made his Test debut as a 20-year-old for Great Britain at home to New Zealand in June 2006, and was an ever-present in a three-Test series against the Kiwis the following year – the last time GB played at home.
From 2008 to 2018, he won 44 England caps – playing in the 2008, 2013 and 2017 World Cups – before taking his GB tally to nine by playing in all four Tests on that 2019 tour.
His tally of 53 caps leaves him level with Adrian Morley, who was the last British player to be presented with a Golden Cap in 2018 – when he was joined by the Australia greats Darren Lockyer (59) and Cameron Smith (56); Ruben Wiki (55) of New Zealand; and Petero Civoniceva, who totalled 51 caps for Australia and Fiji combined.
Graham with Thatto Heath vice-president David Yates (Photo: Bernard Platt)
Jim Sullivan (54) and Mick Sullivan (51) were also recognised at that celebratory event, with presentations to their families for their Test appearances for England and Great Britain.
New Zealand forward Adam Blair also joined the small group of players to reach the 50 Test milestone in 2019. Blair played 51 Tests.
Graham receives his Golden Cap from Ralph Rimmer (Photo:Bernard Platt)
James Graham – international career
ENGLAND CAPS (44)
June 27, 2008. France 8 England 56
October 25, 2008. England 32 Papua New Guinea 22
November 2, 2008. Australia 52 England 4
November 15, 2008. England 22 New Zealand 32
June 13, 2009. France 12 England 66
October 23, 2009. England 34 France 12
October 31, 2009. England 16 Australia 26
November 7, 2009. England 20 New Zealand 12
November 14, 2009. England 16 Australia 46
June 12, 2010. England 60 France 6
October 23, 2010. New Zealand 24 England 10
October 31, 2010. Australia 34 England 14
November 6, 2010. England 36 Papua New Guinea 10
October 21, 2011. France 18 England 32
October 29, 2011. England 42 Wales 4
November 5, 2011. England 20 Australia 36
November 12, 2011. England 28 New Zealand 6
November 19, 2011. England 8 Australia 30
November 2, 2013. England 42 Ireland 0
November 9, 2013. England 34 Fiji 12
November 16, 2013. England 34 France 6
November 23, 2013. England 18 New Zealand 20
October 25, 2014. England 32 Samoa 26
November 2, 2014. Australia 16 England 12
November 8, 2014. New Zealand 16 England 14
October 24, 2015. England 84 France 4
November 1, 2015. England 26 New Zealand 12
November 7, 2015. England 2 New Zealand 9
November 14, 2015. England 20 New Zealand 14
October 22, 2016. France 6 England 40
October 29, 2016. England 16 New Zealand 17
November 13, 2016. England 18 Australia 36
May 6, 2017. Samoa 10 England 30
October 27, 2017. Australia 18 England 4
November 4, 2017. England 29 Lebanon 10
November 12, 2017. England 36 France 6
November 19, 2017. England 36 Papua New Guinea 6
November 25, 2017. England 20 Tonga 18
December 2, 2017. Australia 6 England 0
June 23, 2018. England 36 New Zealand 18
October 17, 2018. England 44 France 6
October 27, 2018. England 18 New Zealand 16
November 4, 2018. England 20 New Zealand 14
November 11, 2018. England 0 New Zealand 34
GREAT BRITAIN CAPS (9)
June 27, 2006. Great Britain 46 New Zealand 14
June 22, 2007. Great Britain 42 France 14
October 27, 2007. Great Britain 20 New Zealand 14
November 3, 2007. Great Britain 44 New Zealand 0
November 10, 2007. Great Britain 28 New Zealand 22
October 26, 2019. Tonga Invitational 14 Great Britain 6
November 2, 2019. New Zealand 12 Great Britain 8
November 9, 2019. New Zealand 23 Great Britain 8
November 16, 2019. Papua New Guinea 28 Great Britain 10
