Emotional Wing shocked by Origin recall
At first Craig Wing shed a tear, then he was speechless.
The NSW utility suspected he was about to earn a State of Origin recall after the team was leaked onto television news, but not until he heard his name officially read out late on Monday night did he believe he had won a Blues jersey after two years on the outer.
Settled into Blues camp at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, Wing revealed he became quite emotional at his shock Origin selection after enduring a change of clubs and massive injury problems since his last Origin in game two 2006.
"I was actually lost for words. When I saw my name there it didn't register at first," he said.
"It was weird, it was a combination of everything. I actually saw it on Channel Ten news and I started to get excited but then I thought this is apparently leaked so is it true or not? Don't get excited until you know for sure.
"It still kind of caught me by surprise. I didn't know what to do I was so excited.
"It's something I won't take for granted."
Wing played 10 Origins between 2003-2006 while he was at the Sydney Roosters, but this is his first since joining South Sydney in 2008.
He missed almost all of last season with a shoulder injury and then had a delayed start to 2009 after multiple operations in the off-season.
It wasn't until Wing got an early start off the bench for NSW City earlier this month, replacing injured Souths teammate John Sutton at five-eighth, that he even came into selection reckoning.
Left out of NSW's initial 40-man squad, the 29-year-old beat Penrith's Luke Lewis for the bench utility role to complete a stunningly quick rise back into the Origin spotlight.
Wing says wearing a sky blue shirt again was thanks to the Rabbitohs' strong start to 2009 and his cameo display for City in Orange.
"In the back of your mind you don't know if you'll get a chance to play Origin again," said Wing.
"It's a big call but I'm more excited about this one than my very first one.
"My first one I'd never played Origin before and I didn't know what was involved. This time I've played before, I've played in many series before and I've been out of the loop for a while and watched the other guys go around and you get a bit of a hole in your stomach when you watch the other guys play.
"When I was younger the rep stuff came so easily and I know everyone questions City-Country but I really enjoyed the week and it was a great opportunity for me. I probably wouldn't be here unless I was able to play.
"I'm just so lucky and excited to get another opportunity."
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