Graham Focused on Team Success Ahead of Game 150

Campbell Graham will bring up his 150th NRL game this weekend with family and friends in attendance, but the South Sydney centre says his focus remains on delivering a win for the Club after Sunday's heartbreaking loss.

Game of Two Halves

Campbell Graham reflected on what he described as a crazy game on Sunday, where the Rabbitohs fell short despite a spirited second-half comeback. The centre said the team was disappointed with their defensive effort in the opening 40 minutes, which left them chasing the game.

"It was pretty crazy actually. It was a game of two halves, definitely didn't start the game how we wanted, pretty disappointed defensively with that first half but definitely a positive we can take out of it, we started playing our footy in the second half and gave ourselves every opportunity to win that game and then just fell short again at the end," Graham said.

Graham acknowledged the team's slow starts have become a pattern this season, with the Canberra match presenting a similar scenario where South Sydney put themselves under pressure early. He said the playing group needs to take individual ownership and accountability to ensure they're mentally prepared from the opening whistle.

Squad Updates

Graham confirmed that Latrell Mitchell was absent from Tuesday's training session as a precautionary measure following heavy contact during the weekend's match. He said Mitchell has been given a day on ice and will be ready for the back end of the week's training sessions.

The Rabbitohs will be without Jack Wighton for the coming months, with the centre undergoing surgery on Tuesday. Graham said Wighton is a huge part of the squad both on and off the field, and expects him to remain around the team maintaining positive energy during his recovery.

On a more positive note, Jye Gray is tracking well for a potential return. Graham said the fullback is bouncing around the place and looking good physically, though the Club won't rush him back unless he's 100 per cent ready to go. With Wighton sidelined, Graham said he'll do whatever coach Wayne Bennett asks of him positionally, with Wednesday's main training session set to provide clarity on any backline reshuffle.

Reaching 150 Games

Graham will celebrate his 150th NRL appearance this weekend, a milestone that holds extra significance given the adversity he's faced in recent seasons. The centre missed an entire season and played just 10 games last year due to a sternum injury, making the journey to 150 games considerably longer than his first century of appearances.

"The first 100 flew by and the second 50's been a bit tougher for me to scrape up, so just grateful to have the opportunity to wear this jersey for a 150th time," he said.

Despite the challenges of his rehabilitation period, which included restrictions on lifting weights and contact work, Graham said he never doubted whether the effort was worthwhile. He said playing in the NRL is a privilege and his dream, making the hard times worth enduring.

Representative Aspirations

When asked about State of Origin selection, Graham said representing New South Wales would be extremely special and remains a career goal. However, he emphasised that any representative opportunities will only come through strong performances for South Sydney.

"That's only gonna come if I perform for Souths, so as I said all along that'll be my main priority and those things look after themselves in time," he said.

Graham also praised the Club's junior representatives, with both the Harold Matts and SG Ball sides bowing out in preliminary finals. He said both grades represented the Club really well and there's exciting talent coming through the pathways, with some Harold Matts players set to become household names soon.