The introduction of the six-man bench has given Newcastle Knights utility hooker Harrison Graham the ultimate opportunity to perfect his craft in the top grade.

The six-player bench has been widely criticised among the NRL community for stunting the growth of player development.

The rule introduces that teams can now select six different options from their interchange bench during the game, scaled up from four.

However, the amount of players being selected to play only remains at four, meaning there are two extra players who will undergo the entire match-day preparations, captains' run, and the vigorous NRL preparation without seeing game-time. 

Many ponder it will stunt the growth of young and fringe NRL players' match fitness and overall development, including Harry Grant, who voiced his concerns about it in February. 

It is no problem for Graham, though, whose primary ambition is to just play as much NRL as possible at the highest level. 

"Yeah, the aim is to just be in the NRL team and now that I've been on the 19-man bench it probably gives me the opportunity to do that," Graham said.

"Whether my minutes are 10 minutes or 80 minutes I'm pretty happy doing whatever for the team.

"If I'm playing less minutes, I'll just have to make sure I'm topping myself up through the week and getting myself prepared for the week after."

If anything, the six-man bench has unearthed the talented star, giving him an opportunity to showcase his skills.

Graham was in everything in Newcastle's dominant win over the Bulldogs on Saturday, recording a try assist, line break assist and 80 run metres from only just 27 minutes of game-time.

"Just off the back of the pre-season, just really trying to push my best foot forward, and now with the 19-man bench, Justin gave me an opportunity against Manly," Graham added.

"I wasn't even sure if I was going to get on or not, but I just got to stay ready, just took it with both hands, and then he (Justin Holbrook) gives me some game time today and just did the same thing.

"So it's a week-to-week kind of thing at the moment."

Graham is spoilt with dummy half royalty around him, studying off Kiwi hooker Phoenix Crossland and Knights legend Danny Buderus to keep chipping away at becoming an elite player in the role.

"He's a New Zealand hooker (Crossland), so learning off him, I learnt off Jeremy Marshall-King at the Dolphins and Phoenix is just the same, he's crafty as, and he's a specialty 9 and he can roll into 13 as well.

"I just try and learn a bit off him and then having Danny Buderus in our corner as well, we do a lot of extra stuff with him so he's the best in that position ever.

"It's pretty handy having those two at the Knights."
It is a team-first mentality for Graham, and is quite happy filling into the utility hooker role for limited game-time opposed to big minutes in the Knights' NSW Cup side.

"Definitely just doing whatever the best for the team at the moment," Graham added. 

"The 19-man bench, he can carry a few specialties on the field so I guess I'm pretty happy doing that role at the moment and when Justin needs me hopefully I can just do my best."

Graham is currently on a development contract for one year in the steel city.

The crafty hooker was the Dolphins' first ever franchise signing before their maiden entrance into the NRL competition. 

With 11 appearances over three seasons up north, he made the move down from Brisbane in the offseason to seek more opportunities in the top grade. 

"Just opportunity really," on why he made the move away from Redcliffe.

"Wasn't sure where I was going to go, the Dolphins kind of told me I wasn't going to be there, and I wasn't sure if I was going to go overseas or anything.

"Then an opportunity came up at Newcastle and I just took it and just thought that I'm going to try hard in off-season, and then going into the pre-season, just work really hard.

"So I've been happy so far and loving the way we are at the moment."
Knights coach Justin Holbrook has promoted Graham to the number 14 jersey ahead of his classy performance last week, almost guaranteeing him another crack at the top grade. 

They face the Canberra Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium this Sunday afternoon.