'Penrith didn't want me enough'

Happy Shark ... Wade Graham has embraced his second home, Cronulla. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Cronulla star on the rise Wade Graham has opened up about his 2011 departure from boyhood club Penrith, accusing the Panthers of not trying hard enough to keep him.

Graham grew up in Blacktown, part of Panthers heartland, and hoped for a long career at the club he grew up supporting.

But as Penrith got caught up heavily back-ending contracts of superstars like Michael Jennings, there had to be some casualties, and at the end of the 2010 season Graham was brutally shown the door.

Speaking as a guest on Sterlo on Thursday night, Graham admitted having to leave the club was one of the hardest experiences of his life, although he has since come to be thankful for his move to the Sharks.

"It was tough mate," Graham said. "It was probably one of the hardest decisions I've made in my whole life. Growing up as a kid in Blacktown, all I wanted to do was play for Penrith.

"I grew up looking up to the guys who played in the 2003 grand final, guys like Luke Lewis, Frank Puletua, Tony Puletua - I got to play with those sort of guys and three season later I finally feel like I'm finding my feet and all of a sudden I'm shown the door.

"It was tough at the time, but like I said, I've moved on now and I'm very happy with where I'm at in Cronulla and I'm looking forward to going forward."

Host of Sterlo, Peter Sterling said he was caught by surprise when Penrith decided to get rid of Graham.

"I thought you were the next big thing at Penrith," Sterling said. "I thought with Craig Gower gone, I watched you come through up there - I don't want to dwell on it too much but did they try hard enough to keep you?"

Graham replied: "Probably in hindsight, probably no, not really. But you say that and sometimes things don't align properly.

"Maybe it was a bit of bad timing out there. You know, the door opened at Cronulla and I'm happy I took it now."  

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