On a Wing and a prayer

Rabbitohs utility Craig Wing has played a lot of Origin footy during a very successful career. <br><br>In all he has made 10 appearances in the sky blue jersey, which is more than many ever dream of. Six of those were in winning teams and in three out of the four series he played, the Blues won. Wing has also never played in a decider where NSW ultimately lost a series.<br><br>They’re all joyous stats and ones from which Wing draws fond memories, but he doesn’t want to rest on his current legacy. He is passionate about playing Origin again and sees a good performance for City this Friday night in Orange as the best way to make it back there.<br><br>“I’d give my left arm to play Origin again. When I’ve played before I’ve been able to hold my hand over my heart and say I did my best. I know what it takes and I have what it takes.”<br><br>Wing isn’t short on confidence and nor should he be. His club form for South Sydney has been excellent, despite the fact he has been wearing the unfamiliar number 13, on his back this year. He has again shown the versatility which once made him the ultimate rugby league utility player and with Kurt Gidley likely to be named fullback for the Blues Wing is fully aware NSW are in need of a new Mr. Versatile.<br><br>“I think there is a spot there for a utility. Hopefully the selectors will be having a look at my name and considering it in Orange. I’ve been playing as a utility all year at Souths and I think that helps. I’ve been quite happy with the way I have been playing. I’m fit as well; I played 80 minutes last week and felt good.”<br><br>The word utility used to be considered a dirty word to describe Wing, such was his immense talent, but as he has matured he’s grown to accept the role and even revel in his ability to play any position.<br><br>“I’ve been playing it for a long time, come game day I know what I have to do and will go out there and do my job and be prepared for anything. It’s what you have to do.”<br><br>With this year’s traditional Country versus City game more of an Origin selection trial than any time in recent memory due to the lack of NSW players in the Kangaroos side, there are plenty of spots up for grabs and plenty of opportunities, with Wing revealing he had even trained at centre early in the City camp.<br><br>“I think it is a genuine trial. In the past when I have played things have been decided upon with NSW winning the prior series and the team not looking to change much, but the way things have been going I think there are some big opportunities for guys to grab jerseys.<br><br>“The team’s clicked well. We had a few blokes who were unable to train in the earlier sessions which forced me out into the centres but I won’t be playing there come the game.”<br><br>With plenty of familiar faces in the City squad, Wing was also happy to discuss the strong Rabbitohs contingent and their chances.<br><br>“It’s good to see Luke Stuart and John Sutton here too. I think Col Best would have been called up into the squad except for injury. Since I came back to Souths, Luke Stuart has been the hardest trainer and he does the job week-in-week out without getting injured, touch wood. He’s just a very professional player.”<br><br>However it’s Sutton who may have the most to do as he looks to get the nod ahead of the man who is all the rage in the NRL right now, Canberra five eighth Terry Campese.<br><br>“John will need to make an impact in this game. He needs to take charge of the game. It may not be as fluid as it would be with South Sydney, but if he can do that he’s a big fella and would fit well in Origin footy.”<br><br>As for the passion of the game, Wing has no doubts it’s going to be huge and also fired a salvo at the notion that Country have more passion.<br><br>“That’s right, I forgot about that, I guess it’s whatever sells papers really. At the end of the day both teams will be giving their all and the guys will be fighting for rep jerseys.”<br><br>With that knowledge locked away fans should expect a passionate encounter this Friday night as 34 players fight for their right to wear the sky blue and Wing looks to regain a jersey he possibly never should have lost with a livewire performance from the City bench.<br><br>