Two of Canterbury-Bankstown's most decorated players, James Graham and Darren Smith, have been bestowed with Life Membership at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
Held at the Canterbury League Club Showroom, both Graham and Smith were unveiled as the Club’s 120th and 121st Life Members.
Graham, Bulldog no. 739, is renowned as one of the great modern-day leaders and forwards of the Club.
A veteran of fifteen years across both the Super League and NRL, Graham arrived at Canterbury in 2012 following a successful start to his career as a 2006 Championship winner with St Helens and recipient of the 2008 Man of Steel as player of the season.
The English Test representative made an instant impact in Belmore, with his ball-playing and tenacity in the middle of the field playing a central part of the Bulldogs attack. He helped guide the side to two Grand Final appearances in 2012 and 2014 – the latter in which he was named Captain in place of the injured Michael Ennis.
A member of the Team of the Decade as part of the Club’s 80th Year Celebrations, Graham spent six seasons as a Bulldog, totalling 135 first-grade matches, where he also captained on a full-time basis from 2015-2017. He finished his NRL career at St George Illawarra before returning to the Super League, where he won a second Championship with St Helens in his final match.
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James Graham Recalls His First Bulldogs Match
Currently, he holds a role as a Club Ambassador and hosts popular online podcast ‘The Bye Round’.
Graham spoke candidly about his experience at the Club, and the connection he still holds after five years since his retirement.
“It feels a little bit strange to come up here and to have this Life Membership given to me,” he admitted.
“It feels strange to be recognised for something that you love and representing a Club that you fall in love with.
“I came to Australia a little unknown about the Bulldogs. I remember going to Belmore on my very first day and it feeling like home instantly. That’s down to the people.
It was a tremendous time, and a huge honour to play for the Club. I’ll never forget what it did for me. It made me and my wife make Sydney our home, but for me in difficult moments and difficult times, the Club was there for me.
“You never forget those moments and that’s the true character of people you go through those times with.
“I had a fantastic time playing for the Club. It was so special, and I would give anything other than my wife and kids the opportunity to go back and do it all over again.
“It really does mean so much to me to be recognised by this great Club. The vision that the Club has for the future makes it really difficult to contain my excitement.
“I’m a fan now and the future looks great.”
Smith, Bulldog no.544, played 185 games across nine years and two stints at the Club in the 1990s and early 2000s, earning a reputation as a versatile and reliable figure.
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The Best of Darren Smith
Joining the Club in 1990, Smith rose to prominence and became a regular member of Chris Anderson’s teams over the next five years. His speed and power were complemented by his versatility; where he played in the second row, centres, lock, five-eighth and even on the wing.
Smith also starred on the representative stage as well, tallying 22 games for Queensland at State of Origin level, while representing Australia in seven Tests, as well as five Super League tests.
After a successful stint in Brisbane which saw him win two titles, he returned to Canterbury in 1999 to help usher in the next generation, before finishing his career back in the Queensland capital following a stint in England for St Helens.
A nominee for the Berries to Bulldogs 70 Year Team of Champions and a recipient of the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, Smith also served as Chief Executive of the Brisbane Tigers post-career.
Travelling to Sydney from Queensland, Smith reminisced fondly on his time at the Club, which kick-started his professional career.
“It’s a great honour to be nominated for Life Membership,” he said.
“I can still remember my first time coming down on the bus to get to the Club. I spoke to my wife today and asked if she remembered the first time we drove my little Corolla down Canterbury Road.
“We kept running into ‘no right turns’ but eventually we found Belmore Sports Ground. The first place we lived in was in Lakemba and it was a really good start to my career.
“My first trial game was at the Holsworthy Army Base. I remember pulling on the jersey and it was like a dream come true that finally I had made the NSWRL. It was an extreme honour.
I played with Director Joe Thomas here and Terry Lamb, Paul Langmack – they were some of the heroes that I really cherished. I really liked the way the Bulldogs played, and I really cherished the times I played at Canterbury.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs would like to congratulate both James and Darren on their achievement and acknowledge their service and commitment given to the Club.
