Broncos legend Gorden Tallis says he understands why Jack Wighton has decided to leave the Raiders but believes moving clubs for less money is “unusual” in this day and age.
Last week it was confirmed Wighton would be joining the South Sydney Rabbitohs from next season on a deal of up to four years, reportedly worth around $850,000 to $900,000 per season.
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The move raised eyebrows since it was initially reported the 2019 Dally M medallist was looking for an increased pay packet as he explored his options on the open market as a free agent.
But joining an already star-studded Rabbitohs outfit featuring Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Cameron Murray means Wighton will actually end up taking a pay cut of around $300,000 per season.
Tallis, who won three premierships with the Broncos, said he can understand why Wighton is leaving the Raiders in search of premiership glory, but admits it’s a hard sell to fans in the salary cap era.
“As a player you understand,” Tallis told news.com.au of Wighton’s move.
“You feel a bit stale. They’ve changed halfbacks a few times. You want to see change. I get all that. I get that as a player.
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“It’s convincing the fans when there’s a salary cap and you read players and they all follow themselves out for more money — that you’ve got one of the better players saying, ‘No I’m going to go there for less. $300,000 less a year’.
“That’s the thing. That’s the sell that we have to the fans and whether they believe it. I think it can happen but do our fans?
“Normally when you take less you stay at the same club, you don’t normally leave for less. This deal is just unusual.”
Asked if the Rabbitohs will be able to fit Wighton into backline already featuring the likes of Mitchell and Walker, Tallis simply said: “Yes.”
Wighton broke down in tears after the Raiders’ 31-30 golden point win over the Dolphins last weekend and admitted the magnitude of his decision to leave Canberra had taken a toll on him.
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“It was huge. It’s been a very tough week,” Wighton said.
“Couple of massive decisions and that, so to come and do this with the brothers, it’s big.
Asked Wighton how his Raiders teammates had supported him during the week, the 30-year-old immediately teared up and was almost speechless.
“Yeah, good boys. Love them all,” he said.
“That’s what it’s all about. Fourteen years — finish the year strong, make memories and enjoy it.”
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Panthers legend Greg Alexander praised Wighton for wearing his heart on his sleeve and said his emotion would be received well by Raiders fans.
“It’s just all got the better of him,” Alexander said as Wighton crouched down and was consoled by a staff member after the interview.
“I feel for him. I know what a tough week it would have been for Jack. A very proud, emotional man and it brings tears to your own eyes.
“Just watching what he’s been through and what that win must have meant to him and the pressure he was under.
“Coming into this game the question was ‘how is Jack Wighton going to play for the rest of the season?’
“The statement he made in the opening 20 minutes was just enormous. Jack’s a man of actions, not words.
“He found it hard to get the words out then. I think everyone and the Canberra supporters would appreciate watching the emotion on his face, what it means to him and what he’s been through and what the win means to him and his teammates.
“The mention of his teammates and he almost couldn’t speak about them because that’s the sort of man Jack is. If anyone had any sort of doubts about how Jack would go the rest of the season in a green jersey, he said it today.”
The Raiders take on the Bulldogs in the first game of Magic Round on Friday night.
