His long-time friendship with Ricky Stuart played a role, but it was the Canberra Raiders' gutsy win over the Sydney Roosters that sealed the deal.
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Watching the wounded Green Machine knock off the reigning premiers against the odds was enough for Ryan James.
He wanted the chance to wear a lime green jersey. And he hopes that same jersey will help launch his State of Origin career.
The Raiders officially announced James signed a two-year deal on Monday, with the Gold Coast Titans captain to join the NRL club at the end of the season.
He's spent the past two seasons overcoming knee reconstructions, which have seen him play just six games in 18 months.
James first met Stuart when he was 15 and the Sydney Roosters flew him down when the now Raiders coach was in charge at Bondi.
They've always kept in touch and the 29-year-old was there at last year's NRL grand final to deliver the Welcome to Country before the game.
With his Titans contract up at the end of the season, James reached out to a few clubs to gauge their interest with the Raiders always at the front of the list.
Especially after he saw them grind out a win against the Roosters, despite having seven players unavailable due to injury.
"It seems they're all playing great footy for their coach," James said.
"I made the decision when I was watching them play the Roosters a couple of weeks back and they were down on troops.
"They just pulled together and got the win. It was around that moment I thought, 'Wow, this could definitely be the team I want to play for'."
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James also hoped to get back to the form that had him on the brink of playing Origin for the NSW Blues.
He was 18th man in 2018, but has spent the past two seasons struggling with injury.
The Titans prop felt coming to Canberra would also allow him to focus purely on his football and the community work he loves - when the coronavirus permits - rather than worrying about everything that comes with the captaincy duties.
Plus he hoped the Green Machine would help him add to his one finals appearance in 144 NRL games with the Titans.
"Yeah 100 per cent. I still have aspirations to play representative footy, but at the moment my main goal is just getting back to full health and trying to make that Canberra jersey mine," James said.
"I want to come down there and train the house down, make sure I'm ready to go when needed.
"It's just one of those things where they've given me the opportunity to come back.
"It's a great team and hopefully come down there and play some finals footy.
"I've been on the Gold Coast a long time and only played one finals game so I'd love to go down there and be part of something they did last year and it looks like they're building towards this year as well."
NRL ROUND 14
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium, 7.35pm.