Part of the secondrower’s motivation for the late swap clubs with Cook Islands 2013 World Cup captain Zeb Taia, who has joined St Helens, was the chance to put himself in the shop window for selection by England and Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett.
After playing in Saints opening Super League match on February 10, Greenwood is now based just 80 kilometres south of Bennett and Graham believes he can put himself in contention for England’s mid-season Test against Samoa.
“Joe Greenwood is still only young, he has come over here and I am excited to see how he goes,” Graham said.
Graham, the Canterbury Bulldogs skipper widely renowned as one of the best front rowers in the game, left St Helens before Greenwood made his Super League debut in 2012 but he remembers him as a rising star at the club.
“Joe was coming through at Saints just as I was leaving. I don’t think we actually played together but he was training with the first team,” Graham said.
“I am a St Helens fan so I would have liked to see him stay at Saints because he was a good player for Saints but good on him for coming over here and seeing what this competition is all about.
“Sometimes I think doing something like that as an experience can really grow you as a person and as a player as well, so I really applaud him for taking the chance to come out here to try and make a go of it.”
After arriving on the Gold Coast on Monday, Greenwood told reporters how he had looked up to Graham and watching the Bulldogs prop play in the NRL had encouraged him to make the move.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for me but I can’t wait to get on with it and step up to it. I like challenges and that's why I came over here. To challenge myself and hopefully win stuff with the team.”
Like Graham, Greenwood is renowed for his high workrate and last season averaged almost 28 tackles per game for St Helens, with an impressive rate of 97 per cent for completed tackles.
He the second English player to join the Titans this season following the signing of centre Dan Sarginson and Graham believes Greenwood could further bolster the forward depth in the England squad.
“He is another addition to the forwards where we have a lot of strength and depth and it is really nice to see to see this next generation of young backrowers like Joe and Ben Currie (Warrington) and Stevie Ward (Leeds), who are really starting to excel,” he said.
By Brad Walter | @BradWalterSport
Chief Correspondent, RLWC2017