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Graham accuses Dragons of having rats in their ranks

3 minute read

Former St George Illawarra captain James Graham claims there are rats in the club's ranks, concerned about the Mudgee hotel argument being made public.

JAMES GRAHAM.
JAMES GRAHAM. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

James Graham has accused his former club St George Illawarra of having a rat in their ranks, furious the Mudgee hotel argument was made public.

Winger Mikaele Ravalawa and forward Zane Musgrove have both been fined over a heated argument in the early hours of Sunday morning after their Charity Shield loss.

Graham, who captained the Dragons for part of his three-season stint in Wollongong, believed the incident was overblown and a non-event.

AAP has been told several members of the public were awake and around at the time of the loud argument and could have witnessed it.

But Graham has genuine concerns the way it was leaked to the media.

"My issue with this, is who is the grass that has gone and leaked it?" Graham said on Triple M.

"Who is the snitch? Why are you going and telling the media for?

"Because it was a non-issue. Nothing got broken, no-one was hurt, no-one caused a disruption. No member of the public was affected by this.

"Which little snitch has gone to the media and said there was a fight at 6am? Who is the snitch?

"That is the issue the Dragons club need to sort out. Not sorting out if there is an issue with teammates."

Graham said he was unsure if he thought the story had leaked from a player or instead another official at the club, but insisted either way it was a concern.

It marks the second time in seven months fears of a 'rat' at the Dragons have been raised, after similar concerns were aired last year amid reports of player discontent.

Graham said if he was still a player at the club in a leadership role he would have addressed the group and told them to stop the leaks.

"It has happened to me before where something similar has happened, a story has got out when it shouldn't have," Graham said.

"And I addressed the group and said this has got to stop. I'd be blowing up deluxe about that.

"I'd say boys if you're in for this cause of us trying to be the best team we can be, the last thing we need is someone thinking this is the best way to go about it.

"Because you're not with us. You're not on our bus or on our ship."

The incident is the latest in a testing six months for the Dragons, beginning with the club splitting with several assistant coaches - including Graham - late last season.

Five-eighth Talatau Amone remains stood down under the NRL's no-fault policy for an assault charge while forward Francis Molo this week pleaded guilty to intimidation.

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