JAMES Graham has confirmed it is his intention to re-join boyhood club St Helens so that he can finish his career where it all began.  

Graham's proposed move to Saints from NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons has been widely discussed since last week.

The Dragons say they are willing to release Graham to return to the UK providing they find a replacement player.

It is widely known that the proposed destination is Saints - with the move reported on both sides of the globe - but today marked the first time that Graham had spoken publicly about a return to the club that he joined as a schoolboy.

Graham revealed how he has been holding talks with Mike Rush, Saints' CEO, who, as a young development officer in the early noughties, was instrumental in securing the Maghull-born forward's services.

St Helens Star:

James Graham signing for Saints with Mike Rush in the early 2000s (St Helens Star)

"There were a few scenarios going around and some cause-and-effect situations back home and I had to stew over that and think things through," Graham, 34, told Fox Sports on Monday.

"I had to work out what I wanted to do and what effect it would have back in England and also on the Dragons as well."

The prop, a 2006 Grand Final winner with Saints and a three-time Challenge Cup final winner, added: "It wasn’t an easy decision, but this gives me the opportunity to go home and finish my career where it all started and play out the next six months and then return to the new chapter back in Sydney."

Asked specifically about rejoining Saints, he added: "I have been a fan ever since I knew what rugby league was.

"I started there as an 11-year-old and my coach back then at the academy (Mike Rush) is now the CEO and he is the guy who I have been doing the dealings with to sign.

"So it's obviously a club that look after their own and there is a lot of fond memories - and that was something else that came into factoring that decision in as I'm risking a lot by going back there and everything that we achieved as a group."

Graham played for St George in the defeat of Gold Coast at weekend and speaking straight after the game he said he was "genuinely unsure" if that was his last game for the NRL side.