Jim Craig (rugby league): Difference between revisions

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[[image:Aus-shirt.GIF{{short description|right|thumb|100px|[[Australian nationalRL rugbycoach leagueand team|Australianformer Australia nationalinternational rugby league captain]]]]footballer}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}

'''James Hampton Craig''' (1895 - 1959) was an [[Australia]]n [[rugby league]] player. He was an versatile back for the [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian national team]]. He played in 7 Tests between 1921 and 1928 as captain on 3 occasions.

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

===Club career===

|name = Jimmy Craig

Craig grew up in [[Balmain]] in Sydney and made his first grade debut as a winger in 1915 with the [[Balmain Tigers]]. He played five seasons with the club excluding 1918 when he was on military duty. Balmain won the premiership in all five of those years.

|fullname = James Hampden Craig

|image = Jim Craig, three-quarter back for Balmain, c. 1924 (10012835485) (2).jpg

|caption = <small>Craig as captain of a 1924 Queensland side</small>

|position = [[Rugby league positions#Backs|Utility back]]

|birth_date = {{birth date|1895|06|29|df=y}}

|birth_place = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia

|death_date = {{death date and age|1959|12|13|1895|06|29|df=y}}

|death_place = [[Ashfield, New South Wales|Ashfield]], [[New South Wales]], Australia

|height =

|weight =

|club1 = [[Balmain Tigers|Balmain]]

|year1start = 1915

|year1end = 21

|appearances1 = 56

|tries1 = 22

|goals1 = 21

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 108

|club2 = [[Sydney University rugby league team|Sydney University]]

|year2start = 1922

|year2end =

|appearances2 = 12

|tries2 = 3

|goals2 = 7

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 23

|club3 = Ipswich

|year3start = 1923

|year3end = 28

|appearances3 =

|tries3 =

|goals3 =

|fieldgoals3 =

|points3 =

|club4 = [[Western Suburbs Magpies|Western Suburbs]]

|year4start = 1929

|year4end = 30

|appearances4 = 25

|tries4 = 5

|goals4 = 70

|fieldgoals4 = 0

|points4 = 155

|teamA = [[New South Wales state rugby league team|New South Wales]]

|yearAstart = 1920

|yearAend = 29

|appearancesA = 2

|triesA = 0

|goalsA = 3

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 6

|teamB = [[Queensland state rugby league team|Queensland]]

|yearBstart = 1923

|yearBend = 28

|appearancesB = 18

|triesB = 6

|goalsB = 29

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 76

|teamC = [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]

|yearCstart = 1921

|yearCend = 28

|appearancesC = 7

|triesC = 0

|goalsC = 6

|fieldgoalsC = 0

|pointsC = 12

|coachteam1 = [[Western Suburbs Magpies|Western Suburbs]]

|coachyear1start = 1929

|coachyear1end = 30

|coachgames1 = 65

|coachwins1 = 39

|coachdraws1 = 4

|coachlosses1 = 22

|coachteam2 = [[Western Suburbs Magpies|Western Suburbs]]

|coachyear2start = 1932

|coachyear2end =

|coachgames2 =

|coachwins2 =

|coachdraws2 =

|coachlosses2 =

|coachteam3 = [[North Sydney Bears|North Sydney]]

|coachyear3start = 1936

|coachyear3end =

|coachgames3 = 13

|coachwins3 = 7

|coachdraws3 = 1

|coachlosses3 = 5

|coachteam4 = [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs|Canterbury]]

|coachyear4start = 1938

|coachyear4end =

|coachgames4 = 16

|coachwins4 = 13

|coachdraws4 = 2

|coachlosses4 = 1

|coachteam5 = [[Western Suburbs Magpies|Western Suburbs]]

|coachyear5start = 1939

|coachyear5end =

|coachgames5 =

|coachwins5 =

|coachdraws5 =

|coachlosses5 =

|updated =

|source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Jim_Craig.html Rugby League Project]</ref><ref>[http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Jim-Craig_2090.aspx Yesterday's Hero]</ref>

}}

'''Jim Craig''' (1895–1959) was an Australian [[rugby league]] footballer and coach. He was a versatile [[Rugby league positions#Backs|back]] for the [[Australia national rugby league team|Australian national team]]. He played in seven [[Test match (rugby league)|tests]] between 1921 and 1928 as captain on three occasions and has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players Century's Top 100 Players] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225164807/http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players|date=25 February 2008 }}</ref> Craig was a player of unparalleled versatility. It is known that he represented in Tests at fullback, centre, halfback and hooker with some of his club and tour football played at winger, five-eighth and lock forward. Whiticker's reference reports that the great [[Dally Messenger]] regarded Craig as the greatest player Messenger ever saw.<ref>Whiticker quote p77</ref>

Following his [[Kangaroo Tour]] representative appearances in 1922 he played a season with the [[University (Rugby League)|University]] club in Sydney. Then in 1923 he relocated to Queensland and took the captain-coach position with Ipswich for the next six seasons.

==Early years==

The last two seasons of his sixteen year career were with the [[Western Suburbs Magpies]]. He led the side to their maiden title over [[St George Dragons|St George]] 1929 in the first ever Grand Final played to determine the premiership.

Craig grew up in [[Balmain, New South Wales|Balmain]] in Sydney and played as a junior for the local club.<ref name="Whiticker">Whiticker pp77-80</ref>

===Versatility=Playing career==

Jim Craig was a player of unparalleled versatility. It is known that he represented in Tests at fullback, centre, halfback and hooker with some of his club & tour football played at winger, five-eighth and lock forward. Whiticker's reference reports that the great [[Dally Messenger]] regarded Jim Craig as the greatest player Messenger ever saw. <ref>Whiticker quote p77</ref>.

===Representative career1910s===

Craig made his first grade [[NSWRFL Premiership]] debut as a winger in 1915 with the [[Balmain Tigers|Balmain club]].<ref name="Whiticker" /> He played at centre for Balmain in the [[1916 NSWRFL season]]'s premiership final victory over [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]]. Craig played five seasons with the club excluding 1918 when he was on military duty. Balmain won the premiership in all five of those years.<ref name="Whiticker" /> Craig's versatility was such that he was selected at hooker for a match on tour of New Zealand in 1919.<ref>[https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/98638/Australian_Rugby_League_2005.pdf 2005 Annual Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705170103/https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/98638/Australian_Rugby_League_2005.pdf|date=5 July 2009 }} – [[Australian Rugby League]] (p. 50)</ref>

He first represented for [[New South Wales Rugby League team| New South Wales]] against a touring English side in 1920. While a [[Queensland Rugby League team|Queensland]] resident from 1923-28 he represented that state on 23 occasions and then in 1929 he twice again represented for New South Wales.

===1920s===

He was selected on the 1921-22 [[Kangaroo Tour]] of England and made his Test debut in the first Test at Leeds. He appeared in 23 minor tour matches notching a total of 58 points as a try scorer and goal kicker.

Graig first represented for [[New South Wales Rugby League team|New South Wales]] against a touring English side in 1920. He was selected on the [[1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain]] and made his test debut in the first test at Leeds. He appeared in 23 minor tour matches notching a total of 58 points as a try scorer and goal kicker. Following his [[Kangaroo Tour]] representative appearances in 1922 he played a season with the [[Sydney University rugby league team|University]] club in Sydney.<ref name="Whiticker" />

In 1923 Craig relocated to Queensland and took the captain-coach position with Ipswich for the next six seasons. While a [[Queensland Rugby League team|Queensland]] resident from 1923 to 1928 he represented that state on twenty-three occasions and then in 1929 he twice again represented for New South Wales.<ref name="Whiticker" />

In the 1924 domestic Ashes series against England Craig was named as Australian captain in all three Tests. Again in 1928 he played in all three Tests of the domestic Ashes series in sides lead by his Queensland rival [[Tom Gorman]].

In the 1924 domestic Ashes series against England Craig was named as Australian captain in all three tests. Again in 1928 he played in all three tests of the domestic Ashes series in sides led by his Queensland rival [[Tom Gorman (rugby league)|Tom Gorman]].<ref name="Whiticker" />

===Post playing===

After football Craig coached [[Western Suburbs Magpies |Wests]], [[North Sydney Bears |Norths]] and [[Canterbury Bulldogs|Canterbury]] during the 1930s, helping Canterbury to their maiden premiership in 1938.

The last two seasons of Craig's sixteen-year career were with the [[Western Suburbs Magpies]]. Craig was the NSWRL's top points scorer in seasons [[New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1929|1929]] and [[New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1930|1930]]. He was captain-coach of the side to their maiden title over [[St George Dragons|St George]] in [[New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1930#Final|season 1930]] in the first ever Grand Final played to determine the premiership.<ref name="Whiticker" />

===Matches played===

{| class="wikitable"

|- bgcolor=#bdb76b

! Team !! Matches !! Years !! Points

|-

| Balmain || 53 || 1915 - 1921 || 108

|-

| University || 12 || 1922 || 23

|-

| Ipswich || || 1923 - 1928 ||

|-

| Western Suburbs || 25 || 1929 - 1930 || 155

|-

| Queensland|| 23 || 1923 - 1928 || 100

|-

| New South Wales || 3 || 1920 & 1929 || 19

|-

| Australia (Tests) || 7 || 1921 - 1928 || 12

|-

|}

==Post-playing==

After football Jim Craig coached [[Western Suburbs Magpies|Western Suburbs]] in 1932 and 1939 and [[North Sydney Bears|North Sydney]] in 1936. He coached [[Canterbury Bulldogs|Canterbury-Bankstown]] to win the Premiership in 1938.<ref name="Whiticker" />

Craig died on 13 December 1959, aged 64.

In 2005 he was admitted into the [[Australian Rugby League]] Hall of Fame.<ref>[http://rl1908.com/Hoffame/index.htm Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518042953/http://rl1908.com/Hoffame/index.htm|date=18 May 2008 }}</ref> In February 2008, Craig was named in the list of Australia's [[List of Australian rugby league's 100 greatest players|''100 Greatest Players'']] (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the [[National Rugby League|NRL]] and [[Australian Rugby League|ARL]] to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|website=[[National Rugby League|NRL]] & [[Australian Rugby League|ARL]]|title=Centenary of Rugby League – The Players|url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true|access-date=2008-02-23|date=23 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226180521/http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true|archive-date=26 February 2008 }}</ref> In June 2008, he was chosen in the [[Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century]] on interchange bench.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23843448-10389,00.html|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]]|date=10 June 2008|title=Locky named No.1 but Wal's still King|access-date=2009-05-20|first=Steve|last=Ricketts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702003008/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23843448-10389,00.html|url-status=live|archive-date=2 July 2008}}</ref> In 2012 Craig was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mr Jim Craig|url=http://www.qsport.org.au/qshof/biography.asp?ID=168|work=Queensland Sport Hall of Fame|publisher=qsport.org.au|access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref>

===Sources===

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{S-start}}

{{S-sport}}

{{succession box

|before = [[Charles Fraser (rugby league)|Chook Fraser]]

|after = [[Tom Gorman (rugby league)|Tom Gorman]]

|title = [[Australia national rugby league team#Captains|Captain]]<br>{{flagicon|Australia}}<br>[[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]

|years = 1924

}}

{{S-end}}

==Sources==

* Whiticker, Alan (2004) ''Captaining the Kangaroos'', New Holland, Sydney

* Andrews, Malcolm (2006) ''The ABC of Rugby League'' Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140114111429/http://nz.leagueunlimited.com/news.php?newsid=16380 ''Queensland Team of the Century named'' – article at nz.leagueunlimited.com]

{{Balmain squad - 1916 NSWRFL Premiers}}

{{Western Suburbs squad - 1930 NSWRFL premiers}}

{{Canterbury-Bankstown squad 1938 NSWRFL premiers}}

{{National Rugby League top points scorers}}

{{Balmain Tigers Team of the Century}}

{{Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame - 2005 Inductees}}

{{The Queensland Rugby League Team of the Century}}

{{Western Suburbs Magpies coaches}}

{{North Sydney Bears coaches}}

{{Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs coaches}}

{{authority control}}

===Footnotes===

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{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Jim}}

[[Category:1895 births]]

[[Category:1959 deaths]]

[[Category:Australasia rugby league team players]]

[[Category:Australia national rugby league team captains]]

[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]

[[Category:Australian military personnel of World War I]]

[[Category:Australian rugby league coaches]]

[[Category:Australian rugby league players]]

[[Category:AustralianBalmain nationalTigers rugby league team captainplayers]]

[[Category:WesternCanterbury-Bankstown SuburbsBulldogs Magpies rubgy league playerscoaches]]

[[Category:North Sydney Bears coaches]]

[[Category:Rugby league utility players]]

[[Category:Rugby league players from Sydney]]

[[Category:Sydney University rugby league team players]]

[[Category:Western Suburbs Magpies coaches]]

[[Category:Western Suburbs Magpies players]]

[[Category:Queensland rugby league team players]]

[[Category:New South Wales rugby league team players]]

[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]