2016 New South Wales debutant Wade Graham has backed Jarryd Hayne for the Blues captaincy next season replacing Paul Gallen.

Graham had been earmarked by Gallen himself as a future Blues captain but the man himself was happy to take up Hayne’s chances.

“Definitely, I think he probably goes straight to the top of that list with all his achievements in the game,” Graham told AAP.

“He is just a player and a person who raises to the occasion every time.

“He not only wants the big games, he excels in the big games and that is someone you want to be leading you.

“I’m sure he will go right to the top of that list now, give him a couple of months of footy under his belt a pre-season and I’m sure he will be ready to go come Origin.”