Mal Meninga urges Jack Wighton to reconsider quitting representative football

While he can’t argue with Jack Wighton’s motivation for quitting representative football, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga fears the Canberra star may come to regret the move.

Kangaroos coahc Mal Meninga urged Jack Wighton (L) to reconsider his retirement from representative football.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has revealed that he would have urged Jack Wighton to keep playing representative football had he been given the chance after it emerged that the Canberra star had contacted NSW officials to confirm his withdrawal from this year’s State of Origin series.

News Corp revealed at the weekend that Wighton was ready to retire from representative football and Blues advisor Greg Alexander confirmed the Raiders five-eighth had called NSW coach Brad Fittler on Sunday to make himself unavailable for Origin.

A disappointed Meninga counted Wighton among his best players at last year’s World Cup and warned the 30-year-old that he was a long time retired when it came to representative football.

Kangaroos coahc Mal Meninga urged Jack Wighton (L) to reconsider his retirement from representative football.

“I haven’t talked to him about it but I am of the view that footy is only a small part of your life so you have to make the most of it,” Meninga said.

“If you’re still good enough to play rep footy, keep going. That is my attitude and that would have been my advice to him if he asked me.

“I see he is doing it for family and to concentrate on club footy. A lot of players have done the same thing in the past.

“It is not unusual but I have the attitude that you are a long time retired.”

Several sources confirmed to News Corp at the weekend that Wighton had been mulling over his representative future for some time, having returned from England at the end of last year as one of the stars of Australia’s World Cup win under Meninga.

Blues hierarchy were believed to be aware of Wighton’s potential unavailability but it was only confirmed when Fittler fielded a phone call from Wighton at the weekend.

“Freddie spoke to him yesterday,” Alexander said.

“He just said he wants to focus on his club and family. Of course it is [disappointing] that he will not be available.”

Jack Wighton was part of Australia's World Cup triumph last year. Credit: NRL Images.

The news comes just weeks after Wighton decided to hit the open market to test his value as he pondered quitting the Raiders at the end of the season.

While not a certainty for selection ahead of the Origin opener on May 31, Wighton has been a regular fixture in the Blues side in recent years - he played 10 games straight before being ruled out of Origin II last year because of Covid-19.

The Blues won in his absence and Wighton was relegated to 18th man for the final games of the series. NSW were beaten but Wighton would have been battling for a place in the starting side for Origin I this year given the Blues are likely to pair Tom Trobjevic and Latrell Mitchell in the centres.

Jack Wighton scores for NSW. Queensland vs New South Wales at CBUS Stadium on the Gold Coast. Pic Peter Wallis

His chances of a place on the bench would have hinged on the direction Fittler took with the starting side given he would have potentially been in competition with Nicho Hynes, and one of Api Koroisau or Damien Cook.

Wighton’s absence may be more keenly felt at international level given the role he played in last year’s World Cup win. Wighton started in the centres in the final as the Kangaroos won 30-10 over Samoa.

Meninga revealed he was aware of suggestions Wighton could opt out of representative football.

“It has been in the grapevine for a while now - even last year,” he said.

“He was excellent [at the World Cup]. He was happy all the time. I guess we allowed the opportunity for his family to be there as well.”

While his representative stance has been finalised, Wighton continues to hedge his bets over his club future. The Raiders have tabled a $4.4 million four year to fend off interest from the Dolphins who are circling.

Originally published as Mal Meninga urges Jack Wighton to reconsider quitting representative football