Campbell Graham vows to defy Rabbitohs' request not to storm field when Alex Johnston breaks try-scoring record

7NEWS

2 days ago

Campbell Graham's back injury has been so painful that the South Sydney centre struggles getting out of chairs and driving long distances.
But it won't stop him being the first one running onto the field when teammate Alex Johnston finally breaks the NRL's try-scoring record.
Johnston needs four more tries to pass Ken Irvine's mark of 212, but time is running out for the winger to enter rarefied air this season.
The 15th-placed Rabbitohs host St George Illawarra on Thursday night for their penultimate game before facing bitter rivals Sydney Roosters after a bye.
Souths officials have publicly urged fans not to storm the field once Johnston finally breaks the record, as supporters did when AFL star Lance Franklin kicked his 1000th goal in 2022.
But teammates could be a different matter, with Graham keen to run through his pain and show Johnston some love.
'Absolutely I would, I'd try to be the first one there to cuddle him. Obviously it's a matter of when, not if, so we'll just see how it plays out,' Graham said.
'It's been a monkey on his back for a couple of years now.
'It's such a great achievement, not only in our game but in Australian sport to have a record like that. It really couldn't happen to a better person.'
Seeing his mate break the record would be a rare bright spot in a tough season for Graham, who has been troubled by a bulging disc in his back since March.
The 26-year-old initially needled up to play but has been sidelined since round 18 and will not line up again this year.
The injury is unlikely to require off-season surgery but has nevertheless been 'pretty rough' for Graham to handle.
'Simple things like driving long distances is not great, getting up out of chairs, stuff like that. It isn't ideal, day to day,' Graham said of his pain.
'It does get you pretty down, even just day to day, dealing with a chronic issue like that. My focus is just to get on top of this, not only for footy but for myself as well.
'At the moment, the goal is to be back fit and training by pre-season.'
Another disrupted year was a tough pill to swallow for Graham, who had been hampered by a sternum injury across the previous two seasons.
The sternum issues forced Graham to withdraw from NSW's squad for the 2023 State of Origin series opener and eventually sidelined him from Souths' entire 2024 campaign.
But Graham is hopeful his luck will turn in 2026, when Souths will fight to recover from a season of injury horror across the board.
'That's something that helps me in my mindset, that although I've had a pretty unlucky run the last couple of years I know things will get better,' he said.
'I know if I keep doing the right things, I'll give myself every chance to be fully fit by pre-season.'