Owen Craigie
Encyclopedia
Owen Craigie is an Australia
n rugby league
footballer. 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. 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. Craigie currently plays for the Central Charlestown Butcher Boys in the Newcastle Rugby League
described him as, "the most freakish talent I came across in my junior days."
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 his ongoing weight problems caused the club to release him and he was quickly signed by the Wests Tigers
.
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.
. 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
.
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.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
and South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
, and the Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in the English Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. Craigie primarily played at five-eighth. 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. Craigie currently plays for the Central Charlestown Butcher Boys in the Newcastle Rugby League
Newcastle Rugby League
The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910...
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 BuderusDanny Buderus
Danny Buderus is an Australian professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL...
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 BroncosBrisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
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
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
. 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 his ongoing weight problems caused the club to release him and he was quickly signed by the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
.
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 RabbitohsSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
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
Paul Langmack
Paul Langmack is an Australian former rugby league coach and representative and premiership-winning player.-Playing Career:While attending Fairfield Patrician Brothers, Langmack played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1982....
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
Arthur Kitinas
Arthur Kitinas is a former rugby league player in the New South Wales Rugby League competition.A hooker, Kitinas came through the lower grades at Sydney's Eastern Suburbs club playing in just 1 top grade match in 1977 before joining the South Sydney Rabbitohs the following season...
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
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
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
Shaun McRae
Shaun McRae is a rugby league coach, who is currently the director of rugby at hull fc after a spell with the Salford City Reds.-Career:...
. 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 VikingsWidnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
. 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
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
South Newcastle Lions
Craigie signed with Newcastle Rugby LeagueNewcastle Rugby League
The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910...
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.