Graham shines as Roos warm up
17 for attacking two boys.
He turned his life around and does work in communities to help prevent other youngsters making the same mistakes. He even wrote a play which he performs on stage.
‘‘Suaia’s story is a great story to be told and I admire him,’’ Packer said.
‘‘Like me, Suaia made mistakes in his youth and paid a price to society as I did.
‘‘He has strived to be a better man every day since then and you have to admire that.
‘‘The past is the past and you have to look to the future and doing the right things helps.’’
As well as success on the field at the World Cup, Packer hopes the Kiwis can inspire youngsters to take up the sport.
It’s so rare that the New Zealand league team get to play on home soil and Packer would love it if they can capture the imagination of the country’s youth.
‘‘I think we’ve got a great opportunity to encourage kids who are 10 or around that to want to play league and represent this country in it,’’ he said.
‘‘That’s something you don’t think about when you’re a young [professional] player, you don’t understand that side of what rugby league and representing your country means to people.
‘‘When I was younger, I just cared about playing rugby league, but now I still love playing the game, but there’s also the other side of things, encouraging people to take a pathway where they can be successful at rugby league, based on how they conduct themselves and what they do on the field.’’
Any of these youngsters could learn more than a thing or two by watching Packer over this World Cup. WADE Graham’s great versatility has him in the box seat to fill the utility role on the Kangaroos bench at the World Cup, after the Cronulla star impressed in a warm-up match in Fiji.
He’s the five-eighth in a backrower’s body who would pull on the No 8 jumper if coach Mal Meninga asked him to, such is Graham’s determination to play a significant role in green-and-gold in the tournament.
But with the starting forward pack just about set in stone, Graham’s chief role is likely to be in the No 14, offering the Kangaroos another back-row rotation from the bench, and the ability to slot into the halves, or even at hooker, if required.
In last Saturday’s clash he came off the bench to play in the forwards against Papua New Guinea, before slotting in at fiveeighth for most of the game with Fiji.
‘‘I’m willing to play anywhere,’’ Graham said. ‘‘I’m stoked to be in this team, whether I’m filling up water or playing centres or in the halves, or in the back-row or in the middle.
‘‘I suppose Mal’s got a fair idea of his starting 13 – the bench is always going to roll around – depending on the game and tactics.
‘‘I spent my first three or four years in first grade playing in the halves. As I got a bit older and filled out in the body, I just moved into the back-row. Maybe I’ve got to ease up on the meat pies?
‘‘I wouldn’t say I play a traditional back-rower’s game, even at NRL level. I’ve got a bit of variation there, so it’s moving out one position – less work in defence and a bit more cleaner touches with the ball.’’
Graham starred at five-eighth against Fiji, laying on a try for Josh Dugan with a brilliant long pass.
Meninga had planned to play the 26-year-old at hooker for periods of the match – Cameron Smith was rested – but Ben Hunt deputised impressively and Graham wasn’t required at dummy half.
Hunt is also eyeing a utility spot on the bench, given he can switch between hooker and the halves, although Graham has the front running, given his size.
Aaron Woods and David Klemmer look set to partner Smith in the front row, while Manly’s Jake Trbojevic is firstchoice lock.
Vice-captain Boyd Cordner will start in the back row, alongside Brisbane workhorse Matt Gillett. The backline is less settled, but will fit around Cooper Cronk at halfback and Billy Slater at fullback.
You never can count on being in a Kiwis jersey and you never know when the next time is.’
The Sun-Herald