More than a decade of top-flight wheelchair Rugby League, three World Cups and eight games for NSW made Craig Cannane a natural choice to be immortalised on the NSWRL’s Honour Wall.
He only found out days before the NSW Wheelchair Honour Wall was unveiled on 12 March that his image would be placed alongside some of the state’s Origin greats – and captains – including James Tedesco and Kezie Apps.
“They (NSWRL officials) rang me up to check with me, but who’s going to knock that back? What an honour,” Cannane told nswrl.com.au
“Being Australian and Sydney-born it’s our DNA, isn’t it? Rugby League means everything to all of us.”
Cannane was one of 29 players to have their names added to the wall as the inaugural members of NSW Wheelchair Rugby League teams, since the interstate competition with Queensland began in 2015.
Each player was also presented with a NSW debutant’s medal, by NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden, which is also what the Westpac NSW Blues and Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues receive.
Cannane, 49, began playing the wheelchair game in 2011 after swapping over from wheelchair basketball.
He played the running game until a motorbike accident, when he was 19, resulted in permanent spinal cord damage.
But the format of Wheelchair Rugby League means Cannane can play with his son, Cory (pictured above), who is not disabled, as well as having female teammates. It is one of the most inclusive sports in the world with both able-bodied (two) and players with a disability (three) on a five-person team.
“It’s awesome playing alongside Dad,” said Cory, who also received a NSW players’ medal having debuted in 2016.
“I guess it’s good and bad as we can take footy and game tactics to the dinner table a bit too much.
“But it’s been great because it’s brought has closer as father-and-son. We’ve shared so many victories together, and a few losses.”
Cory, like Craig, used to play the running game but was quickly converted to the wheelchair format.
“I enjoy the roughness of the game and how quick-paced it is,” he said.
“I was playing the running game for a while and the wheelchair game gives me the same thrill.
“The fact I can play the game with my dad is a beautiful thing.”
The pair became the first father-and-son pairing to play for the Australian Wheelaroos at last November’s World Cup.
Craig hopes to have a few more seasons left in him after having eye cataract surgery.
“Just knowing how we’ve all been recognised like this on an Honour Wall, and to show the Rugby League is inclusive by adding us to the NSW men and women, is so incredible,” he said.
“It is there for all the future now – it is history.
“Kids will see that and want to play our game so they can get their name up there.”
