Off-contract Canberra Raiders superstar Jack Wighton has informed the NSWRL he has made himself ineligible for selection for this year’s State of Origin series.
The Herald can reveal Wighton has phoned Brad Fittler to inform the NSW Blues coach of his decision to retire from representative football just six weeks out from the opening game of the series in Adelaide.
Jack Wighton has retired from representative football.Credit: Getty Images
“Jack spoke to Freddy and has told him of his disappointing decision to retire from representative football,” Blues adviser Greg Alexander told the Herald on Monday morning.
“He has said that he wants to focus on family and club footy. It’s a blow for us. He has been an important part of our squad for the last five years and would have been in the mix again. We’ve loved having Jack in camp and in the team.
“He’s an Origin player. He’s been a great player not only for NSW, but for Australia and the Indigenous All Stars. It’s disappointing he won’t be able to be part of this series.”
Wighton was left out of last year’s decider in game three. He played the first match of the series in the centres, before missing game two due to COVID-19. He was then overlooked in favour of Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton in the centres, with Fittler selecting Wighton as 18th man.
Jack Wighton scores a try for the Blues in last year’s series.Credit: Getty
Wighton went on the end-of-season World Cup tour with Australia, partnering close friend Latrell Mitchell in the centres on their way to winning the trophy.
Wighton’s decision comes as he continues to weigh up his NRL future beyond 2023, having knocked back a Raiders contract option in his favour for next season. Canberra have since lodged an upgraded, four-year offer worth north of $4 million in total with head office.
The Dolphins have emerged as the Raiders’ biggest competition for his services, with his wife’s family ties in Queensland among the factors being weighed up by the 30-year-old.
He returned from suspension for Canberra in Sunday’s tense 20-14 win over the Dragons, the club’s second-straight victory after an underwhelming start to the year.
Coach Ricky Stuart gave a cryptic explanation for Canberra getting ahead of the curve by taking Wighton’s contract to the NRL. He referenced his 2013 row with Wayne Bennett over Anthony Milford leaving the Raiders for Brisbane.
“We’ve put an offer there. It is up to Jack and his management now,” Stuart said last week. “I have got a very special relationship with Jack from a coaching point of view, we are doing everything to keep Jack, we want to keep Jack.
“He is a Raider, but to answer your question honestly – which gets me in a lot of trouble most of the time – I don’t want to lose Jack Wighton the way we lost Milford as a player, to the Broncos years and years ago.”
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