Ex-St Helens and NRL star James Graham stars in Australian series Plum

The ex-Saints and Great Britain international prop features in the newly-released drama Plum.

Its subject matter is one of significance to Graham, who in 2022, had received treatment after “dark spots” had shown up on a brain scan, believed to be the result of repetitive head trauma.

Maghull-born Graham, who said he endured more than 100 concussions and 18,000 collisions during his career, has undergone a series of tests since his retirement.

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Graham was involved in the consultation process during the making of the TV drama.

‘Jammer’ made 237 appearances for the Red Vee during his career, winning two Super League titles, a World Club Challenge and three Challenge Cups with Saints.

James Graham during his Saints playing days (Image: .)

After heading Down Under following the 2011 season to join Canterbury Bulldogs, he later starred for St George-Illawarra before returning to Saints during the disrupted 2020 Super League season, capping off his playing career with a Grand Final win against Wigan.

About Plum

Plum is a 2024 Australian television drama for ABC Television, released on October 20, 2024.

The show explores the issue of concussions in sport and the challenges in reaching out for help.

Created and written by Brendan Cowell, the series follows Peter Lum, a retired former rugby league player diagnosed with a brain disorder following years of concussions he suffered on the pitch.

The story is inspired by Cowell's novel of the same title. After a career in rugby league, Peter Lum is diagnosed with a brain disorder, but does not tell his family and friends. His wife becomes very concerned with his erratic behaviour and his son Gavin, who is being head hunted by rugby league teams, starts to realise his father is not the same person he used to be, and the game might be the reason for it.

Cowell, who has previously starred in Game of Thrones as Harrag, an Ironborn sea captain allied to Theon Greyjoy, portrays the lead role.

Graham is one of several former rugby league stars to make a cameo in the show, with others  including Andrew Johns, Mark Carroll and Paul Gallen.

A story to shine a light on important issues'

Graham is a regular in front of the TV cameras working a pundit Down Under and also hosts his own podcast The Bye Round, but admitted in a post on social media site LinkedIn that acting was a step out of his comfort zone.

Graham revealed he plays the part of Peter Lum’s old school Hull FC coach Eric in the Australian TV drama.

In the post about Plum, he said: "Talk about being out of your comfort zone!

Playing the part of Peter Lum’s old school Hull FC coach Eric in the Australian TV drama ‘Plum’. 

“A story that helps shine a light on some important issues contact sports and its athletes face. The full show is available now on ABC iview.

“On a personal note ‘acting’ was a lot more stressful that I perceived it to be and I was blown away by the amount of people involved in filming on set and in production.

"Big thanks to Brendan Cowell for the opportunity and advice along the way. Being yourself was spot on!”

In a preview video about Plum released by ABC TV, Graham said: “It can be quite confronting and difficult to watch, especially when you see parts of you in there.

“For me at the moment I’m going OK but I’m also not naïve enough to think that those days may (not) come back or there might be a different incident.

“I know there are a number of former professional athletes who are in the same boat and one of the goals of this show is to shine a bit of a spotlight on that and show people that it doesn’t need to be this way, that there is help available out there.”