Officially official...
http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=1939
Rabbitohs Sign Craig Wing for Four Years
One of the leading players in the NRL Craig Wing will return to the Rabbitohs in 2008 on a four season deal.
Wing, 27, came up through the junior representative grades with the Rabbitohs and burst on to the NRL scene in 1998 and 1999 with South Sydney, playing 41 first grade games for the Rabbitohs prior to the Club being omitted from the NRL competition in 2000 and 2001.The NSW and Australian representative has played 217 NRL games in a glittering career which has featured four grand finals including a premiership win in 2002.
A Coogee Randwick junior from the South Sydney Juniors stable, Wing has represented Australia in 16 Tests from 2002 to 2005 including a Kangaroo Tour in 2003 and Tri-nations tournaments in 2004 and 2005. He has also represented NSW on 10 occasions from 2003 to 2006, and City Origin in five matches in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Craig was the 933rd first grade player for the Rabbitohs.
“To be able to bring home one of the best players the South Sydney Juniors have ever produced is a testament to where our Club is placed at the moment,” Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson said.
“Craig is one of the most talented players in the game today and can play in a number of the key positions on the field, be it five-eighth, halfback or hooker. He’s even represented in the centres, so he is the ultimate utility player with the experience that we need to guide our side around the field each week.
“It is also a tribute to Craig that he has asked to return to the Rabbitohs after many years of success with his current Club, and we look forward to welcoming him back in to a red and green jersey for the 2008 season.
“The Roosters rushed out an announcement earlier this week that had a number of mistakes in it and claimed that Craig was a promising junior when he joined them. In reality he was already a seasoned first grader with the Rabbitohs when he was forced to leave.”
Wing said he was looking forward to returning to the Rabbitohs.
“I’m very excited about it, actually I’m trying not to get too excited about it,” he said.
“When I was a child the Rabbitohs were always the team I wanted to play for and it is great to be going back. I’ve been to a lot of places all over NSW and Australia doing promotional work and everywhere I go people are always asking me ‘when are you going back to the Rabbitohs?’ so it’s great to be finally able to answer that question. Returning to Souths has always been an option and I can’t wait to start but I have my commitments to the Roosters and my team mates this season first.”
South Sydney Juniors President Keith McCraw said he was elated that Wing had chosen to return to the Rabbitohs.
“I had the pleasure of flying to Auckland to see Craig Wing make his first grade debut in 1998 for the South Sydney Rabbitohs,” Keith McCraw said.
“After two fantastic seasons with the Rabbitohs Craig was one of the few players who remained loyal to the Club until the court decision was handed down. On behalf of the South Sydney Juniors I am delighted to welcome Craig back to the club with open arms.”
Craig Wing’s Bio
Age: 27
Junior Club: Coogee Randwick (South Sydney Juniors)
Position: Utility
Height: 180cm
Weight: 88kg
NRL debut: Rabbitohs v Warriors Rd 1, 13 March, 1998, Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
NRL Games for the Rabbitohs: 41
NRL Games: 217
Rep Honours:
16 Tests for Australia 2002-05
10 State of Origins for NSW 2003-06
5 City Origin appearances 2001-03; 2006-07
