Graham's head-on defence gets green light

Graham was involved in two head clashes, the first with Souths forward – and the eventual man of the match – Sam Burgess, and later David Tyrrell, who was carted from the field after a sickening collision. Social media was alight with suggestions the English international intentionally used his head to iron out his opponents but Harrigan, and others including former international and Bronco prop Shane Webcke, dismissed the claims as way off the mark.

"I didn't think there were any dramas," said Harrigan. "I wouldn't have been taking him aside for a chat. With that first hit on Burgess, both players were upright and it was a straight-out head clash. I wouldn't be reading anything into those suggestions at all ... I think it is someone trying to make something out of nothing."

Harrigan said other players had been accused of the same thing over the years but he added the dangers that would be involved in any player using his head as a weapon made it suicidal. "Some people said the same thing about Nate Myles a few years ago, that he was leading with his head all the time," said Harrigan. "But gee, you'd be a game man to lead with your head [to make a tackle] considering the damage you could do yourself. If a player plays within the rules there's no reason for anyone to have a whinge and last night was fine."

Webcke also defended Graham from what he dismissed as ludicrous allegations. "I have a wrap on him but I don't think there's been a player with a harder head," he said. "That head of his inflicted some damage and I know there's some suggestion there was a bit of intention but I think that's a dangerous road to go down. If you start leading with your head ...  if [a player] wanted to do what they're suggesting ... you have to lose your line of sight when you go into tackles and that's when blokes really, really hurt themselves badly.

"The human body, it won't do that. You can't say 'righto, I'll lead with my head' every time you make a tackle. I think a lot of [Graham's game] is because he's fearless. He just goes hard, that's how classic tackles are made. He seems to me to be a real competitor and a player with a deep respect for the game – I just can't see that being his go to apply that tactic. I think he's incredibly tough, I love his passion. He's a very curious mix, he plays like a wrecking ball, but he's a very intelligent player in terms of what he does with the ball, how he sets other players up. He's like Burgess and a bit of a rare gem, too."