NRL fans and commentators are sending well-wishes to Owen Craigie amid news the premiership winner has been hospitalised after suffering a stroke. Craigie played 168 first-grade games from 1995 to 2005 across stints with Newcastle, the Wests Tigers, Souths and Widnes (in England).
He played centre in the 1997 grand final when Newcastle beat Manly for their first-ever ARL premiership. On Wednesday The Newcastle Herald reported the 48-year-old has been in hospital for the last two weeks after suffering a stroke that left him paralysed down the right side of his body.
Owen Craigie won a premiership with Newcastle in 1997. Image: Getty/NRL
“It’s scary to think what could have happened,” Craigie told the publication. “They said I’m lucky to be alive. I just fell asleep on the lounge and when I woke up, the whole right side of my body was paralysed. My memory was shot and I was totally disoriented.
“They rushed me to the John Hunter [Hospital] where they found a bleed on the left side of my brain. They treated it with medication but for four or five days, I couldn’t move my right side.”
Thankfully Craigie is starting to get some feeling back. He’s recovering in the stroke ward at Belmont Hospital, about 30 minutes from Newcastle.
“I’m gradually getting the feeling back but there is still a bit of a way to go. I’m having physio two or three times a day,” he said. “The nurses and doctors have been great but I’m keen to get home.”
Owen Craigie in action for Souths in 2003.
(Getty Images)NRL world rallies around Owen Craigie
Veteran reporter Tony Adams was among the many to send well-wishes to Craigie on social media. “Wishing poor Owen Craigie a speedy recovery – he has had a stroke and is currently in hospital undergoing rehab. What a talent he was,” Adams wrote.
One fan wrote: “Very sad news. I hope he has a speedy recovery.” While another commented: “Thoughts are with you brother and family.”
Craigie became the youngest player ever to debut for Newcastle in 1995. A naturally gifted half and outside back, Craigie played 76 games for the Knights before moving to the Tigers in 2000. He played 23 games for Wests and 54 for the Rabbitohs, before finishing his professional career with 15 games in the UK Super League.