A low profile may suit Ash Graham but his NRL club North Queensland admits it has come at a high price for the unassuming winger.

By rights, Graham should be the talk of the NRL ahead of the finals after sharing top try-scoring honours for the season with Canterbury’s Ben Barba.

The 28-year-old’s 21 tries has him in sight of eclipsing Matt Bowen’s club record season haul of 22 set back in 2007.

Yet self-confessed book worm Graham is once again relishing a low-key approach to Saturday night’s NRL elimination final against Brisbane in Townsville.

Cowboys assistant Terry Matterson applauds Graham’s attitude but admits it may have cost him a State of Origin nod and the Dally M Winger of the Year gong.

“He is up there with the best wingers but he does fly under the radar,” Matterson said.

“It does count against you when you are not in the rep teams.”

Queensland State of Origin selectors picked Cowboys centre Brent Tate out of position as Queensland winger as a replacement for Jharal Yow Yeh, adding to a long list of near misses for the low profile Graham.

“He’s unlucky that the bloke inside him (Tate) can play wing as well,” Matterson said.

“Otherwise I think he would have been there.

“But Ash is the sort of bloke who goes about his work. And he seems to be getting better as he gets older.”

Graham re-signed for another year with the Cowboys but has not ruled out retiring at the end of 2013.

If he does, it will be with no regrets.

“I suppose my low profile does cost me. But that doesn’t faze me to be honest,” Graham said.

“It’s nice to win awards and make teams but the main thing for me is to win a grand final.”