The story about one of the biggest names in the game preparing to play his 400th official game of first grade rugby league.

But speak to his teammates and it's impossible not to write it, such has been his impact on the Dragons since he arrived in Wollongong at the start of last season.

For emerging leader Cameron McInnes, Graham has acted as a guiding light for how to captain a team. For developing forwards such as Blake Lawrie, Graham has displayed the work ethic required to make it at the top of the sport.

And for the entire squad, James Graham has inspired each player to be the best possible player they can be, each and every week.

But for Graham, giving 100 per cent at training and on the weekends is simply part of the job description.

"We play a team sport," Graham said. "It's about the team, the clubs that I play for, trying to achieve a common goal for them.

"Individually, anything that comes along the way has always not been of any massive importance for me. I'm just trying to do my best for the team I'm playing for."

"I'm pretty fortunate to play sport at the highest level, there's a lot of hard work that goes into that. I just think what's the alternative of not doing that? Working hard for the team that you're playing for is really important to me and that's what I try and do."

For McInnes, that attitude is exactly what makes Graham such an inspirational leader within the squad.

No matter the stakes, Graham is always giving his all, putting in the extra time at training to get better, that commitment to training translating to his performances in matches.

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As a captain-in-waiting at the club, McInnes said it has been incredibly valuable to learn from Graham throughout the past two years.

"He never takes anything lightly," McInnes said. "You always know what you're going to get from him, he's always going to compete and that rubs off on players, particularly myself.

"At his age, doing the things he does, for me being younger, it shows there's never any excuse. He's been unbelievable for pretty well anyone at the club, I think he's impacted everyone, that's the type of guy he is.

"Around the group, he's got a good voice, he says the right things at the right time, but most of it is just his actions, he goes above and beyond all the time, you follow those guys. If everyone played the way he does every week, with the amount of commitment and that, we'd be a hard team to beat, that's for sure."

For all Graham has achieved, there remains one box he is yet to tick off. Winning a premiership.

With the 33-year-old planning to go around for at least one more year, he's focusing his energy on doing everything he can to ensure he ticks off that box in a red and white jersey over the coming years.

"The fire's still burning," Graham said. "It would mean a lot to win a premiership, it would mean a lot, it really would."

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