Craig Wing ‘A Special Kid’
Craig ‘Wingy’ Wing was born in Sydney on 26 December 1979, and attended Sydney Boys High School where he was selected to play in the NSW Schoolboys 1st XV in 1997. He is of Filipino descent through his mother. He was also a child actor, playing the part of Diego in episode six of a TV serial, Heartbreak High.
Souths Junior
Playing his junior football with Coogee-Wombats and Maroubra Lions, Wing made his first grade debut for Souths in the Round one win over Auckland Warriors at Ericsson Stadium on Friday night 3 March 1998, becoming first grade player #933.
He played 18 games in first grade that year, scoring one try and 5 games in reserve grade (first division) for 4 tries. In 1999 he played 23 games all in firsts, scoring 11 tries including two scorchers, the first one against Cronulla in the Round 10 loss against Cronulla 27-14 on Friday 7 May.
The Tries
In that game he beat 5 big name defenders in Nick Graham, Mitch Healey, Andrew Ettinghausen, Mat Rogers and David Peachey in an unforgettable 50 metre sizzling run, swerving, side stepping his way to the southern end of the SFS. Wing has always said that this try ‘put him on the map’ as a player. He was playing in the five-eighth position that game.
The second one happened against Balmain in the Round 19 win 22-12 on Sunday 11 July. Again playing five-eighth, he beat would be defenders to score a long range try in the 64th minute, to put Souths in front for the first time in the game. It was obvious that 19 year old Craig Wing was a special player.
1999
At the end of 1999, South Sydney were disgracefully dumped from the NRL. Wing had actually signed a 3 year contract extension, and now with no team to play with. He reluctantly joined arch rivals the Sydney Roosters. He had an out clause in his contract that he would be able to return to Souths if re-admitted, but he never invoked it. When asked years later why he didn’t return to Souths, he simply said ‘no-one rang me’.
He stayed with the Roosters until the end of 2007. In 8 seasons there 2000-07, he tallied 185 games in first grade, scoring 66 tries and one goal.
Back Home
In June 2007, Wing announced that he would be leaving the Roosters at the end of the year to take up a 4 year contract with Souths. The Roosters offered a 2 year deal with 2 year option, whereas Souths offered a 4 year deal. The Roosters club openly criticised Souths management for parading him at a high profile press conference while still under contract with them.
In 2008-09, Wing played 28 games in first grade scoring 8 tries and one goal. His total game tally for South Sydney was 69, but would have been much more had Souths not been expelled from the competition.
In Wing’s first game in 2008, he was taken out with a sickening, controversial ‘prowler’ tackle by Roosters hooker Riley Brown. He was held up by two defenders and Riley charged at Wing from behind. This dislocated his left shoulder. John Sattler said that the tackle was cowardly. No action was taken against Riley during or after the game, and the Roosters won 34-20.
Japanese Rugby
Wing stayed at Souths for 2 seasons 2008-09, playing 28 games for 8 tries and one goal. He was released to play for Japanese Rugby Union clubs NTT Communication Shining Arcs 2010-12. Then Kobelco Steelers 2012-16.
He represented Japan during 2013-15 in 11 Tests scoring one try.
Rep Career
An impressive representative career in the NRL included 12 games for NSW State Of Origin 2003-09, when he often played hooker from the bench as an impact player, scoring 2 tries, and 17 Tests for Australia 2002-05 (2 tries). He also played for the Prime Minister’s X111 in 2008 in one game.
Craig Wing will always be one of South Sydney’s favourite sons.
A Special Kid
Footnote: In early 1998, my first year as Club Historian, I went into the then CEO Darrell Bampton’s office, and said to Darrell ‘who is this Craig Wing we selected in the team?’. Darrell said ‘remember that name, he’s a special kid’.
Craig Wing ‘A Special Kid’
By Souths Historian Brad Ryder for Bunnies TV.
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