Comments on: Craig Wing to play rugby in Japan

By: Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:10:13 +0000

Whether or not Wing has a Philippines passport doesn’t matter. There are a number of players who merely have Filipino heritage, mothers or fathers but no passport (similar to Riki Flutey in England, except he qualifies via residency). Also the Japanese league has been in touch with the PRFU about his availability as they want to make sure his home union is fine with his move to Japan.

Most importantly, forget Australia 2011, think how beneficial his talent would be for the long term future of the Philippines squad to learn from.

By: Crosscoder

Crosscoder — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:17:17 +0000

The man.
Not questioning his attacking ability.However as we all know defence is also a vital weapon in the armoury,and Gaz was
caught out on too many occasions for my liking.The proof is in the St George pudding’s defence this year. All quality players are missed,no argument,but somehow time and results and replacement with new up and comers,tend to erase memories.
Wing was an asset for any side.
BTW Have not heard one Saints supporter yet say,gee we miss Gaz,likewise SBW at the Dogs.Maybe I should get out more .

By: The man

The man — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:31:42 +0000

Crosscoder

To say Gaz is almost forgotten is a mistake – the issues Saints had in getting over the line early this season would have easily been rectified by the preferred scoring strategy of last year – give it to Gaz and get out of the way. He was at the peak of his powers and guaranteed selection in any NSW and Australian side and is sadly missed in league.

Wing has seemed to cement a place in any side and his utility value probably hampered this.

Steve – The “Sunday Special” in London has tripped up many a young – the Church, She Bu Walkie and then the “last chance saloon” at Pitcher and Piano in Fulham is dangerous – particularly to a productive Monday morning (or afternoon). Mind you the chances of that appearing in the Fitz files is that of them building a ski lift in hell.

By: ohtani's jacket,

ohtani's jacket, — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:44:15 +0000

That sounds reasonable.

By: True Tah

True Tah — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:32:17 +0000

I dont think he belongs to the PRFU, but he counts as an Asian player as he holds a Filippino passport.

It is somewhat similar to all the Argentine players in Europe using Italian passports.

By: ohtani's jacket,

ohtani's jacket, — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:16:25 +0000

NTT are in the lower division and were well out of the promotion stakes last year, so we won’t hear or see much of Wing in his first season. If NTT top the Top Challenge series, they’ll gain entry to the National Championships like Larkham’s team did last year, but they’ll have to contend with the relegated teams Sanix and Kyuden, as well as Toyota Jido Shokki, who beat NTT last year to earn a promotion/relegation playoff.

Having a Filipino passport seems like just another loophole. Clubs are allowed to field a player from an Asian union. Does Wing belong to the Philippines Rugby Football Union?

By: The Link

The Link — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:15:48 +0000

Choppy, the Tahs would need to match the cash he’s getting, given this is the primary driver for the move.

Can’t see them dishing out 700k a year for him.

But then again Rugby folk can’t seem to make their minds up if they want League players or not, it seems to change by the week.

By: John Ryan

John Ryan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:13:10 +0000

Well I suppose if I was offered that kind of money for an easy ride in Japanese Rugby he would be silly not to take it.

By: Choppy

Choppy — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:40:58 +0000

There is talk that the team he signed with NTT have a ‘sister club’ arrangement with the Waratahs and on the BSB this morning they were speculating if he killed them and really took to rugby he would come back and play for the Tahs enroute to pushing for a 2011 Wallabies World Cup berth.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:34:29 +0000

That could be it Spiro, thanks for that – I wasn’t aware of the Filipino passport.

Interestingly enough, Brad Walter in the SMH today is reporting the exact opposite about Wing’s Test ambitions:

“Unlike former Cronulla centre Fraser Anderson, who was axed by the Sharks earlier this season after signing to play for Kobe Steel in the Top League competition, Wing does not have ambitions of representing Japan in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.”

http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/wings-yen-for-japanese-rugby-opens-the-door-for-unsettled-hunt-tomove-south/2009/07/21/1247941917592.html

By: Spiro Zavos

Spiro Zavos — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:29:39 +0000

Brett, in the Daily Telegraph Craig Wing is quoted, almost as an aside, that he wants to play Test rugby for Japan. He is part Filipino which means he is not an ‘overseas’ player in Japan. Perhaps this is the way he will be fast-tracked into the Japanese national side.

By: Roger

Roger — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:18:25 +0000

NTT Communications signed him…recollect they signed Gerard, JP Nel, Brad Mika and Damien Murphy, coached by Shannon Fraser (ex Tahs Asst coach) and Ben Darwin. NTT just missed getting into Div 1 last year.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:32:53 +0000

on the Nine news tonight, Wing said in an interview with Roar fav Danny Weidler that he wants to play for Japan at the highest level. RWC 2011 wasn’t mentioned, but was clearly inferred. How could this be possible, unless he suddenly has Japanese family?

Interestingly OJ, no club was mentioned in the interview either..

By: ohtani's jacket,

ohtani's jacket, — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:43:47 +0000

Any idea what club he’s going to?

The Japanese clubs are exploiting a loophole in the eligibility laws by signing Australian rugby league players and I know that John Kirwan isn’t too happy about it.

By: Steve Kaless

Steve Kaless — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:59:11 +0000

OME,

I guess it is one of those instances where they have to, they didn’t have any evidence to the contrary and it probably didn’t make any difference to them.

As a naive innocent, he certainly didn’t seem to need much persuaded to have a go did he? I hope he read the instructions on the label.

By: OldManEmu

OldManEmu — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:22:01 +0000

Steve – dont think a Rugby player behaving badly is on the Fitz Files agenda.

Can you believe that they accepted Harrison’s evidence? – I’ve never take coke before your ‘onna – honest. What a load of hooey.

By: Steve Kaless

Steve Kaless — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:07:31 +0000

OME,

That is an interesting link, ah the Church claims another one. I particularly liked the line “a public house known as the Walkabout”.

I wonder if it will make the Fitz files?

By: Norm

Norm — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:02:05 +0000

Best wishes to Craig & I hope it works out for him.

By: Me

Me — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:16:36 +0000

Wasn’t that a great game at Weigall, although the best try that season was against Newington.

I would love to see players like Giteau, Mortlock and Wing in the same backline.

By: OldManEmu

OldManEmu — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:30:02 +0000

http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.Community_Detail/StoryID/23133

Just did a surf and answered my own question Steve. See above link to the transcript of disciplinary proceedings against Harrison.

By: OldManEmu

OldManEmu — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:21:27 +0000

Steve Kaless – intrigued by your “Class A, its OK” call on Harrison. What does that mean?

By: Tom Alexander.

Tom Alexander. — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:13:20 +0000

Good to see a player use his sporting talents to secure a financially stable future for his family, and even better to see Souths not barring the way.

By: Crosscoder

Crosscoder — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:35:07 +0000

Good luck to Wingy,he served rugby league well ,and was a good ambassador for the game.A former rugby league junior and then played schoolboy union.Should be able to adapt easily,especially in a lightweight comp.Anycase he will be another westerner eligible no doubt to play for the Japanese national union team.Great incentive for the aspiring locals;not.
Good on Souths however for giving him an early release from the club.when both player and club agree to a release that is beneficial for the player I applaud the decision.It is the walking out by players (SBW and coaches)that riles me.
Maybe this will mean Souths will have a great year in 2010,such as the Saints and Dogs did after the departures of the almost forgotten Gaz and SBW.
Souths have just signed a swag of exciting locals from the under 20s and juniors,so the production line continues,

By: Steve Kaless

Steve Kaless — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:46:13 +0000

Spiro,

Not sure I can agree with you on the “rugby league didn’t use Craig Wing properly” line. Wing has an odd skillset which probably makes him more of a jack of all trades and master of none. He did seem to fit in better as a utility player and he speed was best utilised coming out of dummy half. Probably not a five eighth in league and he seemed to be overlooked as a full time halfback as well, as the clubs he went to always seemed to have better options.

Great player in broken play though and will not doubt do well in Japan.

Hopefully he’ll have a better finish to his career than Justin “Class A, it’s OK” Harrison. If Bath call Craig, don’t answer.

By: The Answer

The Answer — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:53:42 +0000

Manila are no doubt on a collective edge of their seats with the rumour Craig Wing could turn out for the Philippines.

Good luck to Craig, but the article is also a good example of why sports stars have such incredible egos. He has signed to play in a competition in a developing rugby nation and within five minutes is being touted as a potential Wallaby or the star signing of the Melbourne Super 15 franchise.

This is because he ripped up Sydney Grammar’s defence in the early 90s. Fair dinkum. Many in the rugby set simply cannot help themselves but promise the world to anyone leaving League. He’ll be 32 in 2011, is that really the best thing for the Wallabies?

By: Thurston

Thurston — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:41:15 +0000

Craig’s name kept coming up when Bernie Larkham announced he was departing. Was he ever contacted by the ARU and was an offer made? In short, is this another one who got away?

Saw him play in one of this year’s SOO games and he’s still very, very quick. Can we wave a magic wand and have him at 5/8 for the Wallabies so Gits can slot into his rightful spot?

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:32:50 +0000

Spiro, How many current NRL players are there at the moment that played Union at high school. And how many current players were former Aus Union schoolboy reps?

True Tah
I appologise for my apperent confusing request earlier, It was foolish to think that common sense would prevail in understanding my request.

By: LeftArmSpinner

LeftArmSpinner — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:54:57 +0000

Ah, in some ways an opportunity lost. He should never have gone to Souths. He should have left the roosters a year early and got back into union when there was a shortage of inside backs.

Having said that, dont count him out as a halfback. Spiro, I agree with your assessment except that he has blinding pace off the mark. remember that try he scored early in his league days, with the old souths. He was a fast as a rabbit, a real rabbit.

anyway, good luck all round. Seems like a good guy, but what if????

By: True Tah

True Tah — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:47:31 +0000

Brad

you might want to specify what a union high school is as opposed to a league high school? In many cases, schools play both codes!

Spiro,

given the upcoming talent we have in Australia (O’Connor, Beale, Cooper, Barnes, Burgess, Genia) plus Matt Giteau at fly-half, I dont think he will play for the Wallabies. Having said that, Wing would be an excellent ambassador for Australian rugby, like he has been for rugby league.

His best shot at international rugby would be playing for the country of his mothers heritage, the Philippines, it would give them a huge boost…having said that, Ben Sammut played for Malta and they still lost the game,

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:39:50 +0000

Spiro, How many current NRL players are there at the moment from Union high schools. And how many current players were former Aus Union schoolboy reps?