Rugby league legend Ryan Girdler believes Jack Wighton would be a “fantastic” fit for the Parramatta Eels as the race for the star’s signature heats up.
Wighton sent shockwaves through the NRL when it was revealed he planned to test his value on the open market, with reports claiming over half of the teams in the competition expressed their interest to the 30-year-old’s agent.
The Canberra Raiders star secured the Dally M Medal in 2020, but his individual brilliance hasn’t quite been reflected in his side’s fortunes on the field.
There’s plenty of rivals across the league who would love to snap up Wighton, but speaking on Triple M Rocks The Footy, News Corp journalist Brent Read claimed “there’s a bit of talk Parra might be interested” in Wighton.”
“You want an X-factor, there’s an X-factor,” Read said.
Read’s revelation pours more fuel onto the fire the Eels could be ready to make a serious play for Wighton after a News Corp report claimed the club was one of the first to make inquiries.
Girdler felt a switch for Wighton to the Eels would undoubtedly provide a significant and immediate boost to their premiership hopes.
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“I reckon he’d [Wighton] be fantastic,” Girdler said.
“I reckon if he goes to Parramatta, they’re a good chance anyway, but I think he goes on an edge and stiffens up their edge defence and gives them that real presence out wide, because I think that’s what Parramatta lack at the moment.
“I think they’ll be in very good shape.”
Girdler also implored Wighton to pay a great deal of attention to what he really wants from the latter years of his career, with one train of thought spelling disaster for those hoping the 30-year-old sticks around in Canberra.
“He also needs to think what’s important to him moving forward,” Girdler said.
I would say for Jack at the moment, you just spoke about where the Raiders are. He’s probably in the last contract he’s ever going to sign.
“Does he want to win a comp, because do the Raiders look like winning a comp in the next four years?
“I would say, unless things change or if they’ve got some good juniors coming through, they’re a fair way off winning a premiership.”
