Roar Guru
As soon as Craig Wing uttered the word “NRL” in an interview published on Monday, I knew there would be clubs leaving messages on his answering machine.
I was proved right less than 48 hours later.
The NRL glamour boy mentioned that he would not be opposed to an NRL comeback, and while he would be earning nowhere near the coin he gets in Japan, he mentioned it was the meaning each game had to the fans which was what he missed.
As they always do, this situation got me thinking about which clubs really could use a playmaker such as Wing.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons want (and need) just about anybody right now. Wing and the Dragons may prove be a good fit. There have been cries from left right and centre to move Nathan Fien to the bench to make way for a true halfback.
And it’s no secret the Dragons are desperate to sign just about anyone to fix their cellar-dwelling ways. The Dragons may very well be the most likely path for Wing back into the league, as uninviting as the offer sounds.
Canberra Raiders
Letting Travis Waddell walk during the off-season has left the Raiders thin at the hooker position. The Raiders have tried players such as Shaun Berrigan and Glenn Buttriss at the hooker position this year but are dying for a permanent number nine.
And since Josh Dugan’s departure, the Raiders also need some star power. These things Craig Wing can bring to the side immediately and given the Raiders’ current position, it can’t hurt to try him out. How much worse could things get?
Parramatta Eels
The Eels are another team struggling for stability, this time at Wing’s favourite position, five-eighth. While he may not be a long-term solution, Wing would help develop young Eels such as Luke Kelly, as well as bring a touch of class to a side that has needed just that in most spots on the park.
The Eels are always in the hunt for a superstar (or so it seems) and don’t be surprised to see Wing linked to the team sooner or later.
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are the first team linked to Craig Wing, and why wouldn’t they be? With Lachlan Coote out for a season, and Tom Humble having to fill in at five-eighth, the Panthers could really do with Wing’s experience and class at the position.
There’s no doubt the cashed-up Panthers could afford him, and Dean Whare can always be moved onto the wings or into the centres when Lachlan Coote comes back.