NRL fans are commending James Graham for his bravery and honesty after he revealed publicly for the first time that he had a stint in rehab last year to deal with mental health issues. The 40-year-old played 424 first-grade games across an illustrious career with St Helens, the Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons.
Since retiring in 2020 he’s become a successful member of the media, doing commentary, analysis and podcast work. This week he opened up his ‘The Bye Round’ podcast about his mental health journey and revealed for the first time that he went to rehab last year.
James Graham played for the Bulldogs and Dragons in the NRL. Image: Getty
The former front-rower has previously revealed his struggles with anxiety and depression, and admitted he endured a pretty rough time in 2025. “This last 12 months has been particularly hard,” he said. “Not many people know about this … I made the decision to go to rehab. When I said I was away on holidays, it was a week in a facility for mental health. Which wasn’t long enough.
“You’re supposed to stay there for three (weeks) but due to the job, I couldn’t disappear for three weeks. If I was involved in an accident and had an illness and I needed three weeks off work I’d do it, but for some strange reason (I didn’t stay). One of the reasons why I didn’t was because people would know, but why would I care if they know or not?”
James Graham has become a successful media member since retiring from NRL. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Graham admitted to “slipping back into old habits” with “unnecessary drinking and abuse of alcohol”, and said he doesn’t have balance in life because it’s “just go hard at everything”. He explained: “That’s going hard at partying, wake up the next day, hungover, dealing with the mental health, and then I go running. I run a lot, which I’ve found is so beneficial for mental health.
“I do weight training as well but running in particular is helpful. I’ll finish a really hard run but then want to go hard again on the drinking or eating, or whatever it may be, working. It’s not a balancing act, it’s just all in.”
NRL world full of praise after James Graham admission
Graham said he received a wake-up call when a close mate said he was concerned he’d taken his life when he hadn’t heard from him for a few days. “I’d never do that,” Graham said. “And I think that’s important to know, and he knows that too, but I think to hear your friend say that (is eye-opening).”
Graham said he was speaking out in the hope that others would seek help if they needed it, and not feel ashamed to do so. Fans were full of praise for his bravery in speaking out, with one writing online: “This is going to open up the doors and get people talking. Jimmy is an icon to many and it will have taken a lot for him to have spoken out.” Another commented: “The more people who are candid and open about this in our game, the better. Especially a warrior like Jimmy.”
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