All of the talk during the week has been about the incoming South Sydney left centre, but the three-quarter currently on their right also goes pretty well.
Campbell Graham, at a time when all performances are being assessed through the prism that is State of Origin selection, scored a hat-trick to go to the top of the NRL try-scoring leaderboard. It is a timely haul, coming on the same day that Tom Trbojevic was again sidelined, this time with an adductor injury.
The race to replace Trbojevic in the NSW side, should he be unavailable, is a hot field. Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton, Kotoni Staggs, Joseph Suaalii and Siosifa Talakai all have claims. However, Graham is making an irresistible case. Coming up against the ladder-leading Broncos, on their home turf, he finished with three tries, one try assist, one line break, one line-break assist and 14 runs for 137 metres in his side’s 32-6 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
“I am just trying to block it out at the moment, it’s all sort of background noise,” Graham told the Nine network when asked about the Origin selection speculation.
“I know the best thing I can do to earn myself an opportunity is to play good footy for Souths. I’m trying to block it out at the moment, just focus on week to week and getting the result for Souths. If I just focus on my job, it puts me in the best state for those conversations.
“It was a pleasing result. I knew I would have my hands full today against Herbie Farnswroth, who is playing great footy.
“It’s a game I wanted to get up for and I thought the boys laid the foundation perfectly and us lads on the right edge were able to execute our shapes, which was pleasing.”
Latrell Mitchell, after a quiet start that garnered just two runs in the first 27 minutes, also came to life with two tries and 16 points.
After beating Penrith last week, this was another emphatic statement from the Pride of the League. They conceded their only try when skipper Cameron Murray was in the sin bin and totally dominated to inflict just the second defeat of the season on Brisbane.
This was a five-tries-to-one demolition, a result that sets up a blockbuster Magic Round clash next week against Melbourne. As the Rabbitohs ran away with the contest, one could only wonder; how good will this side be when Wighton is added to it?
Campbell Graham scores his third try.Credit: Getty
When South Sydney opted to let Adam Reynolds go, baulking at his request for anything longer than a one-year deal, his age was privately offered up as a key factor in the decision.
Reynolds was 30 at the time. It is the same age as Wighton right now, who only just inked a deal spanning four years.
Those decisions may well prove masterstrokes which ultimately culminate in the Rabbitohs earning an elusive 22nd premiership. However, there is also plenty of good football in Reynolds right now and likely into the foreseeable future.
The former Rabbitoh, playing in a side missing Payne Haas, Ezra Mam and Corey Oates did everything possible to keep his side in the contest early. He set up the first try, kicked judiciously and may have even been on the wrong end of a headbutt with Mitchell.
Alex Johnston leaps to catch a high ball.Credit: Getty
However, the Broncos didn’t do enough with the advantage they had in possession in the first half and they were never in the hunt in the second in a performance captain Pat Carrigan labelled “embarrassing”.
This was a night that had other casualties. Questions will be asked about whether the Suncorp Stadium surface will stand up to the rigours of eight Magic Round games in three days. And queries will be raised over whether incumbent Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga, who had a forgettable night in the preceding game, can hold off the challenge from Broncos custodian Reece Walsh.
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