While loyalty to his club had kept Wade Graham at Cronulla for the past 11 seasons, it appears that a devotion of a different kind could be the reason that the 31-year-old finally cuts ties with the Shire side.
Despite racking up 221 first-grade appearances in black, white and blue since making the crosstown trek from Penrith ahead of the 2012 season, it now seems that love and linguistics will act as the key for Graham to link up with Catalans in the Super League.
Currently without a contract for the 2023 season, the Blacktown-born wrecking ball toldย News Corp that despite fielding interest from the Perpignan-based franchise about a shift north, he contended he was keen to stay on with Cronulla for the 2023 season.
However, the catalyst for the forward's desire to remain in the beachside suburb was due to an Australian visa opportunity for his french-speaking, Canadian-born partner, Karianne Lafrance.
โIf she stays another year then she can apply for citizenship so there are a few hurdles to jump,โ he said.
โI have had one conversation with โFitzyโ Craig Fitzgibbon) and โMoonsโ (Cronulla's Football Manager Darren Mooney) about what next year looks like.
โBut focus is just about playing this year. Iโm not worried, thereโs still plenty of time to go this year. Weโll see where the cards fall. Iโm not in any rush."
Though Graham - who is reportedly learning how to speak his partner's native tongue - was willing to reveal that Catalans had made contact, the man who manages his own contractual affairs suggested conversations had been light.
โI have had initial chats with Catalans,โ Graham said.
โThey know Iโm off contract and did ring me about a month ago.
โI told them it (playing in France) was in my future plans. It hasnโt progressed much further than that but itโs still on the cards.
โI manage myself so it would be to good go through the process and talk to them. At this stage, they have expressed interest and I have said itโs certainly a goal of mine at some stage of my career to head over there.โ
While the ability to post up beside the Mediterranian with a glass of the Corbiรจres territory's finest reds, the daydream is one that has been momentarily parked according to the eight-time Kangaroo.
โThere are a lot of moving pieces but I doubt it (moving to France) will happen next year," Graham said in finality.
The veteran second-rower has made just the four appearances for the Sharks this season, with his latest outing against the Broncos seeing him running for a season-high 111 metres.
Having last season claimed a ticket to the Super League grand final, Catalans - currently being steered by Graham's former NSW teammate Mitchell Pearce - appear bound for the playoffs once more given their 10-3 start to their 2022 campaign.
