Emerging Cronulla NRL star Wade Graham played a vital role in getting Luke Lewis to the Sharks and isn’t worried about the short-term consequences his best mate’s arrival could have on his own career.

With Lewis signing a four-year deal from next season, the Sharks are bursting with back-row talent.

Paul Gallen, Jeremy Smith and Lewis are already Test players and Graham a representative talent in the making – showing in recent weeks why he was dubbed the next Brad Fittler when he burst onto the scene with Penrith in 2008.

The Sharks also have another brilliant youngster Jason Bukuya hitting his straps.

Graham isn’t worried about possibly missing out on game time in the short term because he can see the long-term gain of learning from the game’s best.

“Personally, it’s going to have a big impact, already having Gal and Jeremy here to start with and then you add Luke Lewis to that as well,” Graham said on Friday.

“It’s not just me but Jason Bukuya.

“You can never stop learning and three names like that there, premier players across the whole rugby league, is very exciting for myself and the other boys in the team.”

Of course, it’s not cut and dried that Graham will lose minutes in 2013.

Smith might leave Cronulla for Newcastle or St George Illawarra next season and coach Shane Flanagan could always shift Gallen to prop.

If Graham continues his red-hot form, he might demand a starting position.

In Gallen’s absence, the 21-year-old has captained the Sharks and been their most influential player.

He’s been called on to display leadership off the field in the past week as well, working the phones to convince Lewis to choose Cronulla over other suitors.

Graham was a ballboy for Lewis growing up and, more recently, served on his former Panther teammate’s bridal party.

“It’s very exciting. Lewie has known me since I was about 10 years old and he was certainly a player I always looked up to,” Graham said.

“It’s very exciting for the club and the other boys to experience what he’s about.”