Owen Craigie

Owen Craigie

Personal information
Born	(1978-04-19) 19 April 1978 Inverell, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
Position	Five-eighth, Centre, Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1995–99	Newcastle Knights	76	32	7	0	142
2000–01	Wests Tigers	23	7	0	0	28
2002–04	South Sydney	54	11	31	2	108
2005	Widnes Vikings	15	7	0	2	20
	Total	168	57	38	4	298
Source: NRL Stats & Rugby League Project

Owen Craigie (born 19 April 1978 in Inverell, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League, and the Widnes Vikings in the English Super League. Craigie primarily played at five-eighth, as well as Centre and Fullback. Owen's career stammered and sputtered, finally being cut short due to ongoing weight problems, constant clashes with coaching staff, gambling problems and his inability to live up to the great expectations that were placed on him due to his once prodigious talent. In 2011, Craigie returned to rugby league playing for the Central Newcastle Butcher Boys in the Newcastle Rugby League and is currently 5/8 of the Belmont Souths Rabbitohs in the NHRL.

Playing career

While attending Hamilton St. Francis Xavier, Craigie played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1994, 1995 and 1996. He is the only player to make the team three years running. Danny Buderus described him as, "the most freakish talent I came across in my junior days."

Newcastle Knights

Craigie made his first grade debut in 1995 against the Brisbane Broncos as a seventeen-year-old while he was still attending school, and in his four years at the Knights he often displayed his brilliant natural ability and skill. He scored 32 tries for the Knights, and was a member of the 1997 premiership winning team. Andrew Johns said he was the "best naturally talented player I played with."

During the 1997 season, Craigie complained that he had been racially vilified during a match against North Sydney Bears. Offending player, Chris Caruana was dropped from the Norths team and was fined.

At the end of the 1999 season, his relatively inconsistent form and falling out with then Newcastle coach Warren Ryan caused the club to release him and he was quickly signed by the Wests Tigers.

Wests Tigers

Craigie played for two season at the Tigers, but his problems only grew as he spent a large time on the sidelines. His two seasons were cut short by on several occasions by many niggling injuries, as well as his previous problems of form and fitness he had battled at the Knights, and as a result his contract was not renewed.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

In 2002 the South Sydney Rabbitohs signed Craigie on a two-year deal in the hope that his fitness problems could be overcome and he could further display his ability he had shown in glimpses at his two previous clubs. In his first season at the southern Sydney side, he started twenty one of the twenty four games the Rabbitohs played in their season, and things finally looked to be on the up for Craigie. However, with new coach Paul Langmack taking over at the Rabbitohs in 2004, Craigie only began two of the first twelve games of the season. Craigie publicly accused Langmack of being racist, which was denied by Langmack. Not long after Langmack was released from the club, with Arthur Kitinas being appointed as head coach. With a new coach at the helm Craigie began to prosper again, and the Rabbitohs won the next three of their four matches, including a win over 2003 premiers the Penrith Panthers in which Craigie was awarded man of the match.

At the end of another disappointing season for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the club went through a reshuffling in which a new CEO and coach were appointed in Shane Richardson and Shaun McRae. Craigie was deemed not to be a necessary player for the club and was yet again released.

Widnes Vikings

For the 2005 season, Craigie signed for English Super League club Widnes Vikings. However, injuries, family troubles and fitness problems meant that his new beginning never really lifted to the heights that the English club had hoped and wished for. Mid-way through the Super League season Craigie and the club came to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract after he suffered a serious knee injury. Craigie quickly moved back to Australia.

South Newcastle Lions

Craigie signed with Newcastle Rugby League side South Newcastle Lions for the 2006 season. However, the Lions later released him from his contract due to his failure to show up for the club's training sessions.

Central Newcastle Butcher Boys

In early 2011, Craigie returned to the Newcastle Rugby League and signed a year's contract to the Central Newcastle Butcher Boys after a 5 year sabbatical.

Wallsend-Maryland Tigers

As of 2012, Craigie is currently the Captain-Coach of the Wallsend-Maryland Tigers in the Newcastle Hunter Rugby League. Craigie led the Wallsend-Maryland Tigers to a 44-16 victory over Windale in the A grade 2012 Grand Final and completed the double leading the Tigers to an emphatic 35-16 victory over Belmont Souths in the 2013 Grand Final.

Belmont Souths Rabbitohs

As of 2014, Craigie left the Wallsend-Maryland Tigers to sign with his 2013 NHRL Grand Final opponents the Belmont Souths Rabbitohs where he played in the five-eighth position. Belmont Souths were undefeated for the entire 2014 regular season, taking out the minor premiership. They then went on to lose both the Major and Preliminary final.

External links

• Owen Craigie at NRL Stats
• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org