‘It's frustrating, but it's more fire in my belly': Campbell Graham vows to thrive in 2026 as bulging disc ends his season

News.com.au

13 hours ago

A calf strain back in round 3 has been revealed as the beginning of the end for Campbell Graham's season as the luckless South Sydney centre vowed to return bigger and better in 2026 with more 'fire in the belly' than ever before.
Graham has always been destined for greatness since the night he debuted as a teenager through to the 2022 World Cup where he scored five tries in two games for Australia.
But a horror run of injuries has left him frustrated, with the 26-year-old missing the entire 2024 campaign following sternum surgery, while a broken hand at training affected this year's pre-season.
Graham was able to play the first three games of the year but missed a month with a calf complaint that required cortisone injections to get him back on the field.
That only masked the issue and things got worse over time, with Graham now officially out until 2026 with a back injury that is affecting him off the field.
'I've got a bulging disc in my lower back, so it's finished off my season,' he said, with Graham last playing in round 18.
'I saw a surgeon last week. I don't need surgery at the minute. He's pretty confident it's something that will heal in time, but it will take a fair bit of time. The goal is to be back fit and in full training by the pre-season.
'It has been tough. After last year, coming into this season I was just grateful to feel fit and healthy again. That's the place I was in at the start of the year, but that's the nature of the beast.
'It's been hard, but I've got my head around it and have accepted it. All I can focus on now is my rehab and getting ready for pre-season.'
Graham has turned to gaming because he can't do anything physically taxing, while he's also working on becoming a mortgage broker as he prepares for life after footy.
'It's been pretty rough,' he said.
'Simple things like driving long distances are not great, getting out of chairs and stuff like that (are difficult), so it's not ideal.
'That's why I had honest conversations with my surgeon and the medical staff at Souths to look at the bigger picture.
'It does get you pretty down day-to-day dealing with a chronic issue like that, so my focus now is to get on top of this, not just for footy, but for myself as well.
'I've got faith that things will turn around for me, and that's something that helps my mindset.
'Although I've had a pretty unlucky run over the past few years, I know things will get better. I know if I keep doing the right things, then I'll give myself every chance to be fully fit by pre-season and roll into next year ready to go.
'It is frustrating, but it's more fire in my belly.'
The lanky centre will watch Thursday's game against the Dragons from the stands, but he'll storm the field if teammate Alex Johnston breaks Ken Irvine's try-scoring record.
Sydney's awful August weather means it's unlikely he'll score the four tries he needs to surpass the record of 212, but a double would set up a fascinating final round against the Roosters where the Rabbitohs will try to help the winger get there.
'I'll try to be the first one there to cuddle him. It's a matter of when, not if, so we'll see how it plays out,' Graham said.
'I know it's been a monkey on his back for a couple of years now and it seems like the only thing people talk to him about.
'I know he'll be relieved to get it done. It's such a great achievement, not only in our game but in Australian sports to have a record like that (broken).
'It couldn't happen to a better person. He's so humble and such a good guy. He really deserves it, and I know the whole club and all the supporters will be so proud of him when he does it.'