It's our backyard: Graham primed to renew Roosters rivalry

Having made a barnstorming return to the NRL with 161 run metres and a try double against the Dolphins, Campbell Graham can't wait to get his hands on arch-rivals the Roosters.

After missing the entire 2024 season, Graham played just 11 games in 2025, the last of those being in Round 18 as a horror injury run tested his physical and mental capacity.

“Absolutely, I feel like this is the in-season game of the year for us,” Graham said.

“It's come early, but we're very excited, especially at Allianz... I suppose it's our away game, but it feels like a home game for us as well, because it's in our backyard.

“It's definitely a game that I personally look forward to most and expecting a great atmosphere out there on Friday.”

After bagging a try in the Pre-Season Challenge game against Manly, Graham was again potent on the right wing as proved a handful for the Dolphins' left edge.

“Felt good to be back out there with the boys, felt fit, coming off a pre-season,” he said after his first NRL game in eight months.

“It's just nice to see all the work that you put in over the four months as a group come together.

“Obviously there's things that we can improve on, but we knew we wouldn't be perfect coming into the first game of the year, so it's definitely something we can build off.”

As well as the return of key players from injury, new recruit David Fifita was enormous on the left edge with 171 run metres and a try assist for Alex Johnston.

“I thought he was really good...  thought across the park the boys were good,” Graham said.

“We weren't perfect, but we didn't expect to be in Round 1, so, Dave's in the same boat.

“I thought he showed us glimpses of how good he can be for us and how good he will be for us this year and I'm sure he'll build off that.

“He's shown a bit of his skill in the pre-season, long passes, a few kicks here and there, so he's got it all in the bag for a big fella.

“He's very impressive and he's probably been one of our best this pre-season, to be honest, it's the way he's attacked it.

“You can tell he had a chip on his shoulder coming into the pre-season and he’s looking really fit.”

With the Round 1 win under the belt, Graham said the team were looking to build on that success and he had “absolutely” circled their Round 2 grudge match on Friday night against Roosters.

The sentiment was shared by Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray, who started the season in sparkling form against the Dolphins.

“For sure, we like getting one over them and it's exciting,” Gray said.

“They're a great team and we're going to have to be on our best game.”

As if a Roosters-Rabbitohs clash needed any added spice, there's the prospect of Johnston breaking Ken Irvine's premiership tryscoring record of 212 should he post a double.

“I thought maybe the record could be broken (against the Dolphins),” Gray said.

“He's itching for it, but it will come, it'll come for sure.

“He's a great player and you could see that, even in defence, he does a job and it's awesome.”