James signed with Saints as a junior in 2000, eventually playing his way through the Junior Academies before making his senior début against Castleford in August 2003. Graham already had leadership experience after captaining the England Academy in a famous series victory in Australia in 2004. [citation needed]
The young prop made a name for himself in 2007's Super League XII, making 27 first team appearances and being named Saints' Young Player of the Year [citation needed] which has also seen him named as a contender for Super League Young Player of the Year, with competition from Wigan rival Chris Ashton. He signed a new contract at St. Helens to tie his future at the Knowsley Road based club until 2011. [citation needed]
On 27 April 2011 it was confirmed by club officials that St Helens joint captain James Graham will join NRL side Canterbury Bulldogs when his contract expires at the end of the 2011 season. "We did everything practical to persuade James to stay," said Saints chairman Eamonn McManus. "But we respect his wishes and ambitions. There comes a point where you have to just shake his hand and wish him luck." Graham left St Helens with a 4–5 record in finals (1-5 in Super League Grand Finals in 2006, and 2007–2011; and 3–0 in Challenge Cup Finals from 2006 to 2008).[11]
He played 26 games in his début NRL season and was part of the Bulldogs team which lost the Grand Final to Melbourne Storm. However he was at the centre of the match's most controversial incident when he appeared to bite the left ear of Storm fullback Billy Slater. Graham denied the charge but despite inconclusive video footage[14] was widely condemned and subsequently suspended for 12 matches by the NRL Judiciary in a hearing lasting ten minutes.[15][16]
Graham after his 400th game
After Canterbury captain Michael Ennis was ruled out of the 2014 NRL Grand Final due to a foot injury, Graham along with teammate Trent Hodkinson were named co-captains of the Bulldogs for the match.[17] At the Bulldogs 2015 season launch, Graham was named the club captain for the club's 80th season, replacing former rake Michael Ennis. It was also announced that the Englishman will be joined in the role with newly appointed vice-captains, Aiden Tolman and Frank Pritchard.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
On 5 September during NRL 360, Graham announced that he had signed a three- year deal with St. George Illawarra starting in the 2018 NRL season. The deal was confirmed by his previous club Canterbury-Bankstown and future club St. George Illawarra on 7 September 2017.[18]
In Graham's first year at the Dragons, the club qualified for the finals and defeated Brisbane in week one 48–18 before being eliminated the following week by South Sydney losing 13–12.[19]
Graham played in the club's first 11 games of the 2019 NRL season but was taken from the field during St George Illawarra's 22–9 loss against Cronulla. Scans later revealed that Graham had suffered a fibula fracture and was ruled out for 8 weeks.[20]
Graham made a total of 19 appearances for St. George Illawarra in the 2019 NRL season as the club endured one of their worst ever seasons finishing 15th on the table.[23]
St Helens
On 25 June 2020, Graham was released by St. George to pursue an opportunity to go back home to St Helens.[24]
Graham representing England in 2011Graham warming up for England in 2016
James made his international début for Great Britain in the 2006, scoring twice in a mid-season international with New Zealand. He missed the Tri-Nations later that season after injuring himself during a drunken episode involving his St Helens teammates. He went on to make another three Great Britain appearances which would all come in the 2007 All Golds Tour before the nation would be ceased and split up into three countries: England, Scotland and Wales.
The following year in June, James made his début for the re-established England team against France in Toulouse. James would go on to play for England in one more fixture, against Wales in Doncaster, before being selected in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup team.[26] He would go on to appear in 3 of England's 4 appearances in their campaign.
He was selected to play for England against France in the one-off test in 2010.[27]
Graham was the vice-captain of England at the 2014 Four Nations. He captained the team in their match against Samoa.
At the conclusion of the 2015 domestic season, Graham was selected to play for England in the 2015 end-of-year internationals against France and New Zealand.[29] He appeared in the France test matchArchived 26 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine where England went on to rout their opponents.[30] He made history in the opening test-match of the series against New Zealand as he officially became the most capped England international, making his 28th appearance for England, since their re-inauguration from Great Britain. He expressed his pride and joy after realising he had now officially beaten Kevin Sinfield's record.[31]
In October 2016, Graham was selected in the England squad for the 2016 Four Nations. Before the tournament, he captained the team in a test match against France in the absence of 'usual' captain Sam Burgess after he was unavailable due to suspension. Graham captained England to a 40–6 victory.
^Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009). "St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
^"Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.