The stunning process NRL star Campbell Graham had to endure as he rebuilt his body before footy return

NRL star Campbell Graham has revealed he ‘feels like a footy player again’ after being forced to rebuild his battered body following a serious sternum injury.

The Rabbitohs centre, 25, hasn’t played since round 27 of 2023.

That season Graham required 29 painkilling injections to feature in 21 games – and while he ended up South Sydney’s player of the year, the World Cup winner with the Kangaroos felt something wasn’t right.

A wrestling session early last year confirmed Graham’s worst fears.

Specialists informed ‘Stretch’ the high volume of painkilling injections he took in 2023 was the likely reason for an infection which caused part of his sternum to die.

‘They removed the dead bone from my sternum, took a bone graft from my left hip, then put the fresh bone into the sternum, and covered it with a couple of plates,’ Graham told the Sydney Morning Herald.

NRL star Campbell Graham has revealed he ‘feels like a footy player again’ after being forced to rebuild his body following a serious sternum injury (pictured, in 2023 against the Eels)

Specialists informed Graham the large volume of painkilling injections he took in 2023 was the likely reason for an infection which caused part of his sternum to die

The  2021 World Cup winner with the Kangaroos then had dead bone removed from his sternum and worked on his return date

After more than 500 days sidelined, the Rabbitohs star is on track to return in round one this season against the Dolphins (pictured, in the 2021 NRL Grand Final versus the Panthers)

‘There was no blueprint in terms of when I could return. 

‘I was hoping I could be back around round 16, but it was up to the surgeon, and he told me when I could run and when I could do weights.’

With the Rabbitohs finishing a dismal 16th, it was decided midway through the campaign Graham wouldn’t feature in 2024.

Now more than 500 days since his last appearance, Graham is the fittest he has been in years – and tellingly, the painkillers remain in the cupboard at Rabbitohs HQ in Maroubra.

‘I’ve been doing full contact since November, and I feel like a footy player again,’ Graham said.

‘I pulled up sore [after a training session] and in a funny way, I never realised I would miss that. Just having that contact, you don’t realise how good it is to have the collision.’

It comes as Wayne Bennett has returned to the club for a second stint at the helm after Jason Demetriou was sacked.

And following a nightmare 2024 for Latrell Mitchell – both on and off the field – the fullback is chasing redemption when clutching a Steeden.  

‘Trell is moving the best I’ve seen him in a pre-season,’ Graham said.

‘He’s also leading the best I’ve seen, with his talk and energy, which is exactly what we need this year.’

South Sydney open their 2025 NRL campaign with an away clash against the Dolphins – Bennett’s former team – at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on March 7.