One half of the famed WRL father-son duo the Cannanes, Craig Cannane has been playing for Wheelchair Rugby League since the early days of competition.

Craig represented Australia at two Wheelchair RL World Cups, in 2013 and 2017, and the veteran player is still going strong.

He grew up in Sydney following St George Illawarra Dragons and playing NRL.

“Before my accident I played non-disabled Rugby League,” says Craig. “I began playing Wheelchair Basketball and in 2011 I was introduced to Wheelchair Rugby League.”

The sport was new to Australia at the time but Craig saw that with Wheelchair RL he could reconnect with “the sport I loved playing previously before my accident” while developing his new skills as a wheelchair athlete.”

The inclusive character of WRL, which encourages athletes of different ages, genders and abilities to be teammates, has since provided another bonus for Craig. His non-disabled son Cory debuted for the game in 2014 and they have enjoyed the distinctive opportunity of playing in Wheelchair RL competitions side-by-side. Such are their skills, both Cannanes have been selected for NSW representative teams many times.

Known as ‘Skip’, Craig likes to be active in his spare time, swimming and playing Wheelchair Basketball, as well as playing poker, spending time with family and eating eggplant parmigiana. Born in 1973 himself, Craig nominates legendary 1980s player Peter Sterling as his hero.

Craig is rapt to be playing in the World Cup in 2022 and says, “I’m excited to play against international teams again – alongside my son and new and old teammates.”