Jim Craig

One of the most versatile and influential players in the history of the game, Jim Craig represented NSW, Queensland and Australia at fullback, centre, five-eighth and halfback. In club matches he regularly filled in as winger and lock and even promoted himself to hooker in one match for Wests and won an even share of the ball! Jimmy Craig emerged from the Balmain juniors and joined in the champion club teams that won premierships in 1915-17 and 1919-20. He toured with the 1921-22 Kangaroos and made his Test debut as a centre against England in the First Test. On his return to Australia in 1922 he spent a season with the fledgling University Club – even enrolling in a course to satisfy the strict eligibility rules of the time. Craig went to Ipswich in 1923 and captained Queensland to an historic series victory over NSW. In 1924 he led the Maroons to wins over NSW and England and was chosen to captain Australia in the Ashes series. Craig represented Australia again when the Lions returned in 1928, taking his career tally to 7 Tests. The following year he accepted the captain-coach role at Wests. Under Craig's leadership Wests won its maiden premiership in 1930. Again, it was his coaching that transformed Canterbury into a premier club in 1938. Jim Craig, ‘Mr Versatile’ passed away in 1959 at the age of 65. Craig was inducted into the ARL Hall of Fame in 2005.