NRL supremo Phil Gould has revealed Jack Wighton’s interesting preference as a 10 club race emerges for the Raiders’ gun playmaker.
The 30-year-old dropped a bombshell on the Canberra club after 224 NRL games with the green machine, hitting the open market for the first time in his 12-year career.
Wighton has until Round 10 to exercise a one-year option in his favour for 2024 and according to The Daily Telegraph, it took only 12 hours for over half the competition to contact his management.
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The Dolphins remain a leading contender with salary cap space to burn after failing in their pursuit of signing a marquee star for their debut NRL season.
Meanwhile, the Titans are reportedly watching on with a potential offer being prepared for the five-eighth who is currently earning a reported $850,000 per-season.
Wighton has played 10 games for NSW and seven Tests for the Kangaroos and one club is reportedly willing to offer a mammoth $1.3 million yearly salary.
Now, according to Gould, Wighton could be seeking a move north to join a team in Queensland whilst also recognising other players are earning north of a million dollars.
“My mail is he has a desire to live in Queensland for some reason,” Gould said on the Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
Is Wighton a $1M player? | 02:27
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“He will be looking at the money they’re earning elsewhere, the reports of contracts and what some of the other playmakers will be earning.
“The other one could well be winning a premiership. Maybe he’s getting to the point he doesn’t think it will happen with the Raiders.”
The Eels also are on the lookout for an ‘X-factor’ player who could slot into the utility role, at fullback or in the centres and Wighton fits the bill.
Tim Sheens’ Tigers rebuild has also got off to a shaky start and the merger club missed out on the signature of Mitchell Moses and are now reportedly pursuing veteran half Mitchell Pearce.
The Raiders are also willing to fight to keep their chief playmaker who made his NRL debut with the club back in 2012.
Kent and Carayannis go at it! | 01:37
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“He’s been incredibly loyal to us for 14 seasons, he’s never once gone out and tested the market,” Raiders chief executive Don Furner said to News Corp.
“He has our full support. He knows that we’re going to do everything we can to keep him and extend him.
“But being possibly his last contract, he has to do what is right for his young family and we fully understand and appreciate that.”
Wighton’s versatility is also a huge drawcard for clubs with the ability to play in the halves, the centres, at fullback and even in the forwards according to Gould.
“I think he could play anywhere. I think he could play in the forwards,” Gould said.
“He’s a pretty experienced player. And at 30 years of age… you can see the horizon (of your career).”
