Graham wants to earn more game time

Brad will be involved in the First Team environment once again in 2021 after stepping up during 2020’s pre-season matches. As a just reward, he was given the shirt number 28 in January and began training with the senior Tigers.

His hard work paid off when he made his Super League debut in October against Hull FC, an opportunity he did not see coming so soon.

“I’m really happy with how things went, I didn’t expect the opportunity to make my debut but with how the season went, it was a chance that came about, and I grabbed it with both hands,” said Graham.

“I’m looking to get more game time, more experience under my belt, a full pre-season and see what the future holds.”

The 2021 pre-season is Graham’s first, full-time pre-season and he has laid out his goals ahead of the campaign starting.

“I’ve been around the group two or three years but this year it’s my first full pre-season where I’ll be in every day. Personally, for me, it is a big chance to kick on, get some size on, get some speed and get used to training with the First Team.”

Daryl Powell says the jury is still out as to whether Brad could be a back-rower because he will grow to be capable of doing so. In his Scholarship and Academy rugby, Graham has been at home as a centre and therefore provide further competition to the Tigers backline.

“We’ve got good options with Shenny (Michael Shenton), Pete (Mata’utia) and we’ve signed Jordan Turner and he will add some real quality in the centres. So, it’s just a challenge for someone like me who is new coming into it, getting to train with these boys is phenomenal. It pushes me to train harder and to want to be the best I can be and where I can also push them, I want to do that.”

Signing until the end of the 2021 season is the latest step in Graham’s development with Castleford Tigers, a club he has been involved with since he was 13 years old.

“I’ve been at the club for nearly five years and spent all my teenage years at Cas, I’ll be 20 next year, but when I got the opportunity to sign here everything just clicked and it did since day one, it is still clicking now. I’m really enjoying my rugby and I come through the gates every day and every day is a challenge which is what you want.”

Not one to rest on his laurels, Graham is also looking to cement his future down as a professional Super League player.

“In the next year or so I am looking to pen my future down, whether that be a two or three-year contract if possible. Obviously, I’ve got a lot of hard work to do to get to that point but that will be the main goal for me.”