RUGBY LEAGUE OPINION: Sydney to UAE - Craig Wing's incredible flight

Before he was helping Japan steamroll the UAE in rugby union, Craig Wing enjoyed a glittering 12-year career as a dynamic playmaker in the NRL.

The 33-year-old did it all in rugby league, playing more than 256 games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters, winning a Premiership with the Roosters in 2002, as well as 10 matches for New South Wales and 16 Tests for Australia.
Before he jetted back to Japan, The Sin Bin sat down with 'Wingy' to talk about his journey to becoming a duel international and all things NRL...

A union Test in the middle of the desert is a long way from the league fields of inner-city Sydney. When you left the Rabbitohs in 2009 did you ever imagine playing for Japan?
I never thought I’d be here doing this, making my rugby union Test debut in Dubai. But I’ve been living in Japan for three years now and I’ve grown an attachment to the country and one of the big things was the opportunity to work with someone like [coach] Eddie Jones.
You were at the top of the game in 2009 having played State of Origin a few months earlier. Are there any regrets about leaving?
No, not at all. In all honesty, it was a big achievement to make Origin that year. I started that year in reserve grade after I had a couple of injuries. I was kind of at the stage of my career where I was looking for something different, I was getting worn out of living a life in Sydney of just rugby league everyday and the fact I went to reserve grade made me realise that my career was finite.
NRL stars are always being linked to big-money moves to Japan. Could your success pave the way for more to follow?
At the moment the way the Japanese yen is going and the increase in the salary cap for the NRL it’s probably a lot more profitable to stay back there. But it’s also quite difficult [with the eligibility laws]. I’m fortunate in that I have an Asian passport whereas other league guys coming across have to compete with the Springboks, All Blacks and Wallabies that want to come to Japan.
I could think of a few NRL clubs in need of a player of your calibre. Would you consider going back?
I’ve had a chat to some people back in Australia. All clubs are always happy to have back-up and especially a utility but I’m enjoying this experience. I’m learning so much everyday, it’s quite refreshing.
We’ll take that as a no. Your old clubs are flying high at the top of the table. What do you make of their form so far? The Roosters have got so much more improvement but they’ve still got some big teams they’ve got to knock off before they really cement themselves. And the Bunnies, they’ve beaten some of the best teams already and they’re going great guns. They’ve got their gameplan worked out, they’ve got their combinations going so I think they’re a bit ahead [of the Roosters] at the moment.
On current form they could meet in the Grand Final. Show us your true colours - who would you support?
When I went to watch them I kept going for whoever was behind. So that’s a tough one; one team I supported my whole childhood and debuted with and the other team I enjoyed all of my significant success with. I guess you could say I could win either way or lose either way.
OK, I’m sure you won’t sit on the fence with this question. You were part of the last NSW team to win an Origin series back in 2005. Can they finally break the drought?
They were very, very close last year but I hope it’s their year, it’s been too long.
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