View source for Craig Wing

{{Short description|Australia international dual-code rugby player}}
{{expand French|topic=bio|date=October 2021}}
{{use Australian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name                = Craig Wing
|image               = Craig Wing.jpg 
|imagesize           = 100
|caption             =
|birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1979|12|26|df=yes}}
|birth_place         = [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
|height              = {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight              = {{convert|89|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position            = {{rlp|HK|HB|FE|FB}}
|club1               = [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]]
|year1start          = 1998
|year1end            = 99
|appearances1        = 43
|tries1              = 12
|goals1              = 0
|fieldgoals1         = 0
|points1             = 48
|club2               = [[Sydney Roosters]]
|year2start          = 2000
|year2end            = 07
|appearances2        = 185
|tries2              = 66
|goals2              = 1
|fieldgoals2         = 0
|points2             = 264
|club3               = [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]]
|year3start          = 2008
|year3end            = 09
|appearances3        = 28
|tries3              = 8
|goals3              = 1
|fieldgoals3         = 0
|points3             = 34
|teamA               = [[Prime Minister's XIII]]
|yearAstart          = 2008
|yearAend            =
|appearancesA        = 1
|triesA              = 0
|goalsA              = 0
|fieldgoalsA         = 0
|pointsA             = 0
|teamB               = [[City vs Country Origin|NSW City]]
|yearBstart          = 2001
|yearBend            = 09
|appearancesB        = 6
|triesB              = 3
|goalsB              = 0
|fieldgoalsB         = 0
|pointsB             = 12
|teamC               = [[New South Wales state rugby league team|New South Wales]]
|yearCstart          = 2003
|yearCend            = 09
|appearancesC        = 12
|triesC              = 2
|goalsC              = 0
|fieldgoalsC         = 0
|pointsC             = 8
|teamD               = {{rlnt|Australia}}
|yearDstart          = 2002
|yearDend            = 05
|appearancesD        = 17
|triesD              = 2
|goalsD              = 0
|fieldgoalsD         = 0
|pointsD             = 8
|ru_club1            = [[NTT Communications Shining Arcs]]
|ru_year1start       = 2010
|ru_year1end         = 12
|ru_appearances1     = 21
|ru_tries1           = 10
|ru_goals1           = 5
|ru_fieldgoals1      = 0
|ru_points1          = 50
|ru_club2            = [[Kobelco Steelers]]
|ru_year2start       = 2012
|ru_year2end         = 16
|ru_appearances2     = 43
|ru_tries2           = 13
|ru_goals2           = 1
|ru_fieldgoals2      = 0
|ru_points2          = 98
|ru_teamA            = [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]]
|ru_yearAstart       = 2013
|ru_yearAend         = 15
|ru_appearancesA     = 11
|ru_triesA           = 1
|ru_goalsA           = 0
|ru_fieldgoalsA      = 0
|ru_pointsA          = 5
|ru_position         = [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]]/[[Fly half (rugby union)|Fly-half]]
|updated             = 11 October 2015
|source              =<ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Craig_Wing/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref>
}}

'''Craig Wing''' (born 26 December 1979), also known by the nickname of '''"Wingy"''', is an Australian-born former professional [[rugby league]] and [[rugby union]] footballer. He began his career in rugby league, playing for the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]] and the [[Sydney Roosters]] in the [[National Rugby League|NRL]], representing {{rlnt|Australia}} internationally and [[New South Wales Rugby League team|New South Wales]] in [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]]. He switched to rugby union, playing in Japan for the [[NTT Communications Shining Arcs]] and the [[Kobelco Steelers]], earning selection for the [[Japan national rugby union team|Japanese national team]] after completing three years residency.

==Background==
Wing was born in Sydney, Australia. He is of [[Filipinos|Filipino]] descent through his mother. He attended [[Sydney Boys High School]] where he played rugby union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/09/05/in-memory-of-rugby-at-sydney-boys-high-school/|title=In memory of rugby at Sydney Boys High School|publisher=The Roar|last=Zavos|first=Spiro|date=5 September 2008|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> In 1997 Wing was selected to play in the New South Wales Schoolboys 1st XV where the team remained undefeated until the final decider.<ref name="nswschoolsrugby.rugbynet.com.au"/>

==Acting career==

Wing was a child actor, playing the part of Diego in episode six of [[Heartbreak High]].

==Rugby league career==

===South Sydney===
Wing made his first grade debut for South Sydney against the [[Auckland Warriors]] in round 1 1998 at [[Mt Smart Stadium]].  In round 10 of the [[1999 NRL season]], Wing announced himself as a talent of the future when he scored a solo try against [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks|Cronulla-Sutherland]] where he beat five Cronulla players to cross over the line.  Wing scored two tries for South Sydney in what was to be their final ever game when they played against [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]] in round 26 1999 at [[Parramatta Stadium]].  Following the conclusion of the [[1999 NRL season]], Souths were controversially excluded from the competition as part of the [[NRL]]'s rationalisation policy.  After Souths were excluded, he joined the club's arch rivals the [[Sydney Roosters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2017/04/30/catching-up-with-craig-wing/|title=Catching Up With Craig Wing|website=South Sydney Rabbitohs}}</ref>

===Sydney Roosters===
Wing played most of his professional rugby league at the [[Sydney Roosters]]. He moved to the club in 2000 and originally started as a [[Rugby league positions|halfback]] {{citation needed|date=November 2015}} partnering [[Brad Fittler]]. Wing played from the interchange bench in the [[Sydney Roosters]]' [[2000 NRL Grand Final]] loss to the [[Brisbane Broncos]]. He played at halfback in the Roosters team which won the [[2002 NRL Grand Final]] against the [[New Zealand Warriors]], scoring a try.

Having won the [[2002 NRL Premiership]], the Roosters travelled to England to play the [[2003 World Club Challenge]] against [[Super League]] champions, [[St Helens R.F.C.]] Wing played at half back in the Roosters victory. Wing was later moved to {{rlp|hk}} in 2003 when halfback [[Brett Finch]] joined the club.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200503/s1318392.htm ABC Sport – Rugby League – Hodges on the wing for Broncos<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> After his side's loss in the [[2003 NRL grand final]], Wing was selected to go on the [[2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France]], helping Australia to victory over [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] in what would be the last time the two nations contested an [[The Ashes (rugby league)|Ashes series]].

Wing played for the Roosters at {{rlp|hk}} in their [[2004 NRL grand final]] loss to cross-Sydney rivals, the [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Bulldogs]]. Wing was selected in the Australian team to go and compete in the end of season [[2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations]] tournament. In the final against [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] he played from the interchange bench in the Kangaroos' 44–4 victory.

Wing played in four [[National Rugby League|NRL]] [[NRL Grand Final|Grand Final]]s, a feat achieved by very few players in the NRL, and all with the Roosters: 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

===Return to Souths===
Wing announced in June 2007 that he would be leaving the Roosters at the end of the 2007 NRL season to take up a four-year contract with the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]], the club where he started his career.<ref name="Rabbitohs Sign Craig Wing for Four Years">{{cite web|url=http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=1939|title=Rabbitohs Sign Craig Wing for Four Years|publisher=Souths.com|date=20 June 2007|access-date=22 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013229/http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=1939|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead }}</ref>

While the Roosters' offer was higher, Wing said he felt more comfortable accepting the Souths offer as it was a guaranteed four-year deal compared to the Roosters' 2-year deal with an option for a further 2 years.<ref name="Craig Wing To Leave Roosters">{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2588|title=Craig Wing To Leave Roosters|publisher=SydneyRoosters.com|date=20 June 2007|access-date=22 June 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907085943/http://www.sydneyroosters.com.au/news.php?ArticleID=2588|archive-date=7 September 2007 }}</ref>

Wing came under criticism for allowing himself to be paraded at a high-profile [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|Souths]] press conference while still contracted at the [[Sydney Roosters]]. The Roosters broke the news of Craig Wing's signing on their website before Souths had officially signed him, and Wing apologised to the Roosters’ fans.<ref name="Mason blasts Wing's publicity stunt">{{cite web|url=http://nrl.com.au/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/5778/Default.aspx|title=Craig Mason blasts Wing's publicity stunt|publisher=NRL.com|date=21 June 2007|access-date=22 June 2007}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="NRL Deluxe – It Was Poor Taste!">{{cite web|url=http://nrl.com.au/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/5780/Default.aspx|title=NRL Deluxe – It Was Poor Taste!|publisher=NRL.com|date=22 June 2007|access-date=22 June 2007}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Roosters give Souths a signing lesson">{{cite web|url=http://nrl.com.au/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/5775/Default.aspx|title=Roosters give Souths a signing lesson|publisher=NRL.com|date=21 June 2007|access-date=22 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626075406/http://www.nrl.com.au/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/5775/Default.aspx|archive-date=26 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Wing sorry over 'show pony' signing">{{cite web|url=http://nrl.com.au/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/5773/Default.aspx|title=Wing sorry over 'show pony' signing|publisher=NRL.com|date=21 June 2007|access-date=22 June 2007}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He was jeered on 23 June 2007, by the Roosters fans at a game against the [[Parramatta Eels]], his first game after signing for Souths.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,,21957122-23214,00.html?from=public_rss Wing jeered as Roosters thrashed – League – Fox Sports<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In round 1 of the season, Wing was injured in a tackle in only the 8th minute of the game against his old club the Roosters. Wing was in the process of being tackled by [[Anthony Tupou]] and [[Braith Anasta]], when [[Riley Brown]] shoulder charged Wing's back.  Wing was sidelined for 12 weeks.<ref name="Wing sidelined for months">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23386202-5016289,00.html|title=Wing sidelined for months|publisher=Daily Telegraph|date=17 March 2008|access-date=7 September 2009| first1=James| last1=Phelps| first2=Dean| last2=Ritchie}}</ref> In a much awaited return, Wing helped Souths to only their fourth win of the season in his return from injury, beating bottom placed [[North Queensland Cowboys]] 29–28 in the greatest comeback in Souths' history, having been down 28–4 at one stage of the game.

===Representative career===
Wing represented the [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]] [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]] team, [[City Origin]] and the [[Australian Kangaroos]].

He was named in the [[Australia national rugby league team#Rugby League World Cup Squad|Australia training squad]] for the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup]].<ref name="Veteran Lockyer named in Australian squad">{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/01/sports/AS-RGL-Australia-Squad.php|title=Veteran Lockyer named in Australian squad|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=1 August 2008|access-date=2 August 2008}}</ref> He was selected for City in the [[City vs Country Origin|City vs Country]] match on 8 May 2009.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]]|title=Blues halfback duel in two as Mitchell Pearce misses selection|first=Todd|last=Balym|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25422326-5016947,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205020103/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25422326-5016947,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 December 2012|date=3 May 2009|access-date=3 May 2009}}</ref>

In May 2009, he was named in the 17-man squad to represent [[New South Wales state rugby league team|New South Wales]] in the opening game of the [[2009 State of Origin series]] on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fitzgibbon|first=Liam|publisher=Fox Sports News (Australia)|title=NSW selectors go with form and not reputation for Origin opener|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25537374-5018993,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730123123/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25537374-5018993,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 July 2012|access-date=30 May 2009|date=25 May 2009}}</ref>

==Rugby union career==
Wing announced on 21 July 2009 that he would be leaving South Sydney to play [[rugby union]] in Japan for the [[NTT Communications Shining Arcs]]<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The Roar|title=Craig Wing to play rugby in Japan|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/07/21/craig-wing-to-play-rugby-in-japan/|last=Zavos|first=Spiro|access-date=21 July 2009|date=21 July 2009}}</ref> and in 2010, he joined his former NSW Schoolboys 1st XV coach [[Joe Barakat]] who was coaching with the team.<ref name="nswschoolsrugby.rugbynet.com.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.nswschoolsrugby.rugbynet.com.au/verve/_resources/NSWSRU_I_XV_1971_-_2011.pdf|title=NSWSRU I XV 1971–2011|publisher=NSW Schools Rugby Union|access-date=5 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063152/http://www.nswschoolsrugby.rugbynet.com.au/verve/_resources/NSWSRU_I_XV_1971_-_2011.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

In 2012, after two seasons with Shining Arcs, he moved to the [[Kobelco Steelers]], where he is listed as playing [[Rugby union positions#Centre|centre]] or [[Rugby union positions#Fly-half|stand-off]].<ref>{{cite web| title=選手プロフィール 神戸製鋼コベルコスティーラーズ| url=http://www.kobelcosteelers.com/member/craig_wing.html| publisher=Kobe Steel| date=18 August 2014| access-date=2 December 2014| language=ja| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117071851/http://www.kobelcosteelers.com/member/craig_wing.html| archive-date=17 January 2015| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=クレイグ・ウィング| url=http://www.top-league.jp/player/profile/2014/profile159509.html| publisher=JRFU|date=20 October 2014| access-date=2 December 2014|language=ja}}</ref>

His switch to rugby union attracted interest from the [[Philippines national rugby union team]] who approached him to play for them, as he qualified through his mother who is Filipina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/craig-wing-approached-to-play-rugby-union-for-the-philippines-at-the-commonwealth-games/story-e6frexnr-1225783572640|title=Craig Wing approached to play rugby union for the Philippines at the Commonwealth Games|publisher=Daily Telegraph|last=Phelps|first=James|date=7 October 2009|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> Despite this interest, in 2013 he was instead selected for the [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan Cherry Blossoms]], having qualified after three years' residency. He made his debut for Japan in May 2013 in a match against the [[UAE national rugby team|UAE]]. He scored his first try for Japan in June 2013, in a historic 23–8 win over {{nrut|Wales}}, playing at centre in a side coached by fellow Australian [[Eddie Jones (rugby union)|Eddie Jones]].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC|title=BBC Sport – Japan record historic first win over Wales|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/22909676|access-date=2 December 2014|date=15 June 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071024202242/http://www.stateoforigin.com.au/SOOgame/PlayerDetails.aspx?Pid=267 State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080326203022/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Players/Craig-Wing.html Official South Sydney Rabbitohs profile]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/3244785.stm Wing shock at selection]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4415858.stm Kangaroos turn to versatile Wing]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/4459564.stm Wing expects to be fit for final]
*[http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/182566.html ESPN profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131104094701/http://sakura.rugby-japan.jp/japan/2013/id19452.html#36_wing Japan National Rugby team profile] (in Japanese)
* [http://www.top-league.jp/player/profile/2014/profile159509.html Japan Top League profile] (in Japanese)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150117071851/http://www.kobelcosteelers.com/member/craig_wing.html Kobelco Steelers profile] (in Japanese)
* {{IMDb name|0934931}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Anthony Field]]| title = [[Cleo (magazine)|Cleo Bachelor of the Year]]| years = 2000| after = [[David Whitehill]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{2002 Sydney Roosters Premiership}}
{{Sydney Roosters - 2003 World Club Challenge Winners}}
{{2003 Kangaroo Tour squad}}
{{Australia 2004 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{Australia 2005 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{Japan Squad 2015 Rugby World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wing, Craig}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Australian people of Filipino descent]]
[[Category:Japan international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Dual-code rugby internationals]]
[[Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs players]]
[[Category:Sydney Roosters players]]
[[Category:New South Wales City Origin rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Prime Minister's XIII players]]
[[Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players]]
[[Category:Rugby league utility players]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Sydney]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Sydney]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Urayasu D-Rocks players]]
[[Category:Kobelco Kobe Steelers players]]
[[Category:2015 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:Rugby union centres]]
[[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in Japan]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of Japan]]
[[Category:Japanese rugby union players]]
[[Category:Naturalised sports competitors]]
[[Category:People educated at Sydney Boys High School]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]