Owen Craigie facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Born | 19 April 1978 Inverell, New South Wales, Australia |
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Playing information
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| Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Five-eighth, Centre, Fullback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Owen Craigie, born on April 19, 1978, is a former professional rugby league player from Australia. He played during the 1990s and 2000s. Owen was a talented player for teams like the Newcastle Knights, the Wests Tigers, and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia's National Rugby League. He also played for the Widnes Vikings in the English Super League. Owen mainly played as a five-eighth (five-eighth), but also as a centre (centre) or fullback (fullback). Unfortunately, his career ended earlier than expected because of many injuries.
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Owen Craigie's Early Rugby League Journey
Owen Craigie showed amazing talent from a young age. While attending Hamilton St. Francis Xavier, he played for the Australian Schoolboys team. He was part of this special team in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Owen is the only player ever to be chosen for this team three years in a row. Fellow player Danny Buderus called him "the most freakish talent" he saw in his junior years.
Playing for the Newcastle Knights
Owen Craigie made his first-grade debut in 1995. He was only 16 years old and still in school when he played against the Brisbane Broncos. During his four years with the Knights, he often showed his amazing natural ability and skill. He scored 32 tries for the team. Owen was also a key member of the 1997 team that won the premiership, which is like winning the championship. Another great player, Andrew Johns, said Owen was the "best naturally talented player" he ever played with. At the end of the 1999 season, Owen's contract with the Knights ended. He then signed with the Wests Tigers.
Time with the Wests Tigers
Owen Craigie played for the Wests Tigers for two seasons. However, he spent a lot of time off the field due to injuries. Many small injuries kept cutting his seasons short. He also faced challenges with his fitness and form, which he had also dealt with at the Knights. Because of these ongoing issues, his contract was not renewed after two seasons.
Joining the South Sydney Rabbitohs
In 2002, the South Sydney Rabbitohs signed Owen Craigie. They hoped he could overcome his fitness problems. They wanted him to show the great ability he had displayed in flashes at his previous clubs. In his first season with South Sydney, he started in 21 of the 24 games. Things seemed to be improving for Owen.
However, when a new coach, Paul Langmack, took over in 2004, Owen played less. He only started two of the first 12 games that season. Later, Langmack was released from the club. Arthur Kitinas was then appointed as the new head coach. With a new coach, Owen started to play well again. The Rabbitohs won three of their next four matches. This included a big win over the 2003 champions, the Penrith Panthers. Owen was even named man of the match in that game.
Playing for the Widnes Vikings
For the 2005 season, Owen Craigie moved to England. He signed with the Super League club Widnes Vikings. However, injuries, family challenges, and fitness problems continued to affect his performance. His new start in England did not reach the heights the club had hoped for. Midway through the Super League season, Owen suffered a serious knee injury. He and the club then agreed to end his contract. Owen quickly moved back to Australia.
