Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has broken his silence over the Raiders’ failure to hold onto star half Jack Wighton, who gave up nearly $1 million to sign with South Sydney for the next four years.
The 30-year-old snubbed the Raiders’ $4.4 million offer for four years and a $4 million Dolphins deal to move to the Rabbitohs, where he will earn a reported $900,000 per year.
The Raiders have reportedly lodged a formal complaint with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo over the deal, with the NRL now set to scrutinise the bombshell move.
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Now Stuart has spoken out in a club statement about the veteran’s exit, revealing he “hurts today” after the Raiders “did everything possible to keep Jack”.
Stuart also slammed the NRL’s current negotiating rules, saying: “As a club, we believe the current contracting system where players can sign well out from the end of their current contract is flawed. It is not fair to you who I see as our major stakeholders, the club, and as importantly the players.
It comes after Raiders great Laurie Daley warned things would be extremely awkward for Wighton for the remainder of his time in the nation’s capital.
“The Raiders would be disappointed to lose Jack, they offered him a wonderful deal,” he said on Big Sports Breakfast.
“We haven’t heard from Jack yet but you’d like to know the reasons why he left. They are talking about he wants to win a premiership.
“But if that’s the case that means he’s playing at a club at the moment that he doesn’t believe will win the comp this year or doesn’t believe will win the comp in the next four years.
“That mightn’t go down too well with some of the players if that’s the reason why he’s leaving.”
Will Wighton shake up Souths side? | 02:43
FULL STATEMENT
“Yesterday, Jack informed the club that he would not be re-signing with the Raiders beyond this season.”
“I want to reassure you all that the club did everything possible to keep Jack at the Raiders and we wanted nothing more than to see him reach 300 games and become a one-club player.”
“I want to let our loyal members and fans know that I bleed green as much as you do, and as much as it hurts today, our future is still ahead of us, and we will continue on the path we best see fit to give this club the success it deserves.”
“As a club, we believe the current contracting system where players can sign well out from the end of their current contract is flawed. It is not fair to you who I see as our major stakeholders, the club, and as importantly the players. I know it would have been hard for you, our Raiders fans, because I know what the feeling was like for me, to see an image of Jack in a Souths jersey (digitally altered) on the back page of a Sydney paper today.”
“What we can do, is to assure you that the club will continue to invest in our successful development and pathways systems and continue to give players the opportunity to represent you and our great club, like so many have done over the last 40-plus years.”
“I personally won’t rest in my drive to make this club successful for you. Rest assured the current season is still our number one focus and priority. We appreciate all of your support, and we can’t wait to see you at the footy.”
