NRL 2023: Jack Wighton subject to vile social media attack
The NRL integrity unit will investigate a vile social media attack on Raiders star Jack Wighton after he called out the troll on his own Instagram page.
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The NRL integrity unit is set to investigate a vile social media attack on Canberra Raiders superstar Jack Wighton.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has vowed to track down the troll who targeted Wighton in the wake of news that he would join South Sydney next season.
“It’s absolutely abhorrent that we have people that talk to anyone in that way, whether they are a footballer or a member of the public,” Abdo said.
“The integrity unit will now investigate to try to track down the person and take the appropriate action.”
Wighton, who will join the Rabbitohs on a four-year deal from 2024, followed the lead of future teammate Latrell Mitchell by calling out his attacker on his own social media account.
“Stooping low here. For what reason little coward,” Wighton wrote in response to the attack.
Wighton also posted an image of the comments, in which he was called a “weak gutted dog” and a “f. king dog c. t”.
The comments also included racial attacks.
The incident follows Wighton’s decision a month ago to put himself on the open market after playing his entire 12-year NRL career at the Raiders.
The news set off a mad 10-club signing scramble, with the Dolphins quickly emerging as favourites alongside the Raiders.
During the negotiations, Wighton announced his retirement from representative football in a bid to prolong his club career and push up his asking price.
The Rabbitohs swooped in late, aided by Wighton’s strong friendship with Indigenous All Stars teammate Latrell Mitchell, and eventually secured the Test star.
It took some nifty accounting work by the Bunnies, who had to free upwards of $3 million in their salary cap.
The saga resulted in the Raiders lodging an official complaint to investigate South Sydney’s deal, which is worth significantly less than Canberra’s $1.1 million a season offer.
There are concerns Wighton’s Souths deal is laced with third-party arrangements and Canberra want NRL salary-cap auditors to probe the contract when it is formally lodged.
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