Sharks forward Wade Graham has signed a new three year contract with the Sharks that will see the 23-year-old remain at the Cronulla club until at least the end of the 2017 season.
As CEO Steve Noyce explained, securing the signature of Graham, who joined the Sharks from the Panthers back in 2011, is an important step forward as the club attempts to build for the future.
“For a young man Wade shows great character, leadership and maturity beyond his years and his signing is a significant one for the Sharks,” Noyce said. “He is the sort of player we can build a team around and we are thrilled he has decided to stay with us for the next three years.”
Sharks Coach Peter Sharp was equally positive and excited about the re-signing of Graham.
“He is a quality young man and a very good player. He is a future leader of this club, a great player and it is a real boost for us to re-sign him,” Sharp said.
As for Graham his decision to commit to the Sharks had a lot to do with his desire to be a part of what he believes is a club bound for success over the coming years.
“I’ve been here for four years now, feel at home in Cronulla and I’m close to the playing group. I see it as a club moving forward and I want to be a part of that,” Graham said.
“We’ve had a tough start to the season this year but with players at the club like Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Todd Carney, as well as some of the good kids we have coming through the 20’s, we can bounce back this year and be serious contenders over the next couple of years.
“We are heading in the right direction and I want to be a part of what’s happening here at the Sharks,” Graham added.
Graham began his NRL career as a schoolboy while at Penrith, moving to the Sharks prior to the start of the 2011 season. He has since played 72 games for the Sharks in the top grade and 114 games in total in the NRL.
For the past two seasons Graham has also deputised as Sharks captain when club skipper Paul Gallen has been unavailable due to injury or representative duties.
