Wing quits Souths to play rugby in Japan

(AAP) South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson says the club won't rush into splashing the cash on a replacement for rugby union-bound star Craig Wing.

But that didn't stop the Rabbitohs boss from throwing up the likes of off-contract
Brisbane star Karmichael Hunt and banished former Canberra playmaker Todd Carney as
players of interest.
Rabbitohs prodigal son Wing was on Tuesday released from the final two years of his
deal with the club to take up a two-year offer with a yet to be named Japanese rugby
union side once he finishes this season with Souths.
The announcement signalled the end of an eventful two-year return to Redfern for the
local junior, who was paraded with great pomp and ceremony when lured back to club
from the Sydney Roosters midway through 2007.
His decision to quit has left the Rabbitohs with an unexpected cash windfall, though
Richardson was adamant the club would not be forced into making a signing.
"We never budgeted for this, we were under our cap and we didn't require Craig to go
to be under our cap, but we'll obviously have a substantial amount money that we can
spend," Richardson said.
"There's lots of targets out there ... we'll just see what happens the next few
weeks and keep our powder dry and, you know, Mick Crocker fell out of a tree and you
never know what could fall out of the next tree."
Asked if the Bunnies would go for a like-for-like replacement for Wing, Richardson
said:
"It doesn't have to be - we may look up front, we may look anywhere - there's very
few utility players running around like Craig Wing.
"But you've got (Todd) Carney on the market, you've got Karmichael Hunt - you've got
a fair few blokes out there.
"We'll bide our time and see what happens."
Carney - currently playing park football in far north Queensland - has been heavily
linked with a move to the Sydney Roosters next season while Hunt is believed to be
close to following Wing to Japanese rugby.
Richardson said Wing approached him a few weeks ago seeking permission to look
overseas, the NSW Origin utility seeking some financial security following reports
he had loss large sums of money in failed business deals.
While disappointed to let a current Origin player go, Richardson admitted the move
was laced with compassion.
"Craig's personal issues have been well documented over recent months," Richardson
said.
"The contract with Japanese Rugby will go a long way to helping his personal
situation and we respect that and wish him well in his further football career."
Wing will finish his NRL career having played over 250 first grade games during
stints with the Rabbitohs and Roosters, winning one premiership and representing
Australia in 16 Test matches and NSW on 12 occasions.
"I truly appreciate the club granting me this special release and I want to thank
Souths for agreeing to my request so that I can move on with my personal life off
the field," Wing said in a statement.
"I started my NRL career here in the red and green and it is fitting that I finish
it in this great jersey."