Raiders coach Ricky Stuart believes the Raiders are in a good position to retain the services of Jack Wighton after sticking by him through a range of circumstances since he was a teenager.
Wighton, who has an option worth $900,000 in his favour for 2024 that needs to be triggered by Round 10, will test the open market, with the Dolphins reportedly leading a host of clubs interested in luring him away from Canberra.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Is Wighton a $1M player? | 02:27
Stuart revealed he hasn’t spoken to Wighton about his contract negotiations and is focused on getting the Raiders up the ladder from their current 16th placing.
“I haven’t spoken to Jack about it, but it is not uncommon for a number of players that have those clauses in their contract,” Stuart said.
“You read over the last 12 months there has been a number of players that have tested the open market.
“Jack has got to make a decision and that’s where it is at.
“I have got a football team to run here and we are looking for our next win, so that is where my main focus is on at the moment.”
However, Stuart is confident Wighton knows where he stands and that he wants him to play out the rest of his career with the Raiders.
“Absolutely, I mean Jack knows I want him here,” Stuart said when asked if the club would do everything in their power to keep Wighton.
MORE NRL NEWS
BLUES PREDICTED SIDE: Freddy’s brutal Luai call as Tigers’ woes bite star
JIMMY BRINGS: Gus’ feud with Roosters supremo; Sharks crunch Hynes numbers
LATE MAIL: Manly’s big blow as star ruled out again; Walters’ shock move
‘OPEN A CAN OF WORMS’: Debate erupts over shock proposal to block RA poaching
“That’s the most important thing for me. He knows my feelings about him as a person and as a football player and I want him to be a Raider.
“But that decision is taken out of my hands. That is up to Jack now to make that decision.”
Up to 10 clubs are reportedly interested in the 30-year-old Blues and Kangaroos star, who is looking at signing his last big contract in rugby league.
However, Stuart believes the Raiders have looked after Wighton and his family and will be very competitive with any offers from rival clubs.
“There is probably another five clubs who would like to as well (on top of the 10), but it comes back to the salary cap,” Stuart said of the interest in his star five-eighth.
“We look after Jack and his family very well here, so I am at ease with it because I know we do everything we possibly can for Jack and his family.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
Wighton stuns Raiders with transfer news | 03:21
“So I’m at ease with that and it is a decision for Jack now.”
Stuart believes the way the Raiders have stuck by Wighton from a young age and through some challenging times away from the field to turn him into one of the best paid players in the game is a great example to young players considering joining the Raiders.
“I reckon it is a wonderful example for our club to show how we can develop young players,” Stuart said.
“We got Jack as a 14 or 15-year-old player here and the club has done a wonderful job for Jack and stood by him in all sorts of different circumstances.
“We have stuck right beside him and supported him and I think it is a great example for a lot of other young players out there what we can do for young players that come to this club.
Wighton whacked with two game suspension | 00:34
“The stature we have got Jack to with his ability and the club’s support, where it has got Jack as a player is a great example for what we can do for other young men and women now in regards to our new NRLW team.
“It is a credit to our club in regard to the development and the welfare we put around our young players.
“And him being a young Indigenous boy from Gilgandra, Orange, his background it is a great quality this club has got in regards to our development of youth.”
