Owen Craigie

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Owen Craigie (born April 19, 1978 in Newcastle, New South Wales) is an Australian rugby league player. He has previously played for the Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers & South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League, and the Widnes Vikings in the English Super League. His position of choice is at five-eighth. Owen's career stammered and sputtered, finally being cut short due to on going weight problems, constant clashes with coaching staff and his inability to live up to the great expectations that were placed on him due to his once prodigious talent.

[edit] Playing career

[edit] Newcastle Knights

He began his career as a successful junior for the Newcastle Knights club, representing the Australian schoolboys in both 1995 and 1996. He made his first grade debut in 1995 against the Brisbane Broncos as a sixteen 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 on several occasions, even winning a Premiership with them. However, his relatively inconsistent form and his ongoing weight problems caused the club to release him and he was quickly signed by the Wests Tigers.

[edit] Wests Tigers

Craigie was given a one year deal at the Tigers, but his problems only grew as he spent a large majority of the season on the sidelines. His season was 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.

[edit] 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, and 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.

[edit] 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 and Craigie quickly moved back to Australia.

[edit] South Newcastle Lions

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

[edit] External links

• Owen Craigie Official Profile