South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou reveals positional plan for Jack Wighton
South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has revealed how he plans to use new recruit Jack Wighton amid questions over his best position.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has revealed how he plans to use new recruit Jack Wighton after questions over what his best position would be at his new club.
Some questioned whether the 30-year-old former Raiders star would potentially play in the halves or at full back, forcing a major shake-up at the Rabbitohs.
Demetriou told The Daily Telegraph that he will make a final call closer to the season, but is strongly leaning towards deploying him at left centre.
“I just know Jack is going to make us a better footy team. At the moment, if I was to pick him, I’d pick him at left centre,” Demetriou told the publication.
“I’m going to spend time in the pre-season to see where Jack fits best. What I love about Jack is that he is committed to play wherever the team needs him to play.
“For a player of his stature to have that mindset, that rubs off on the rest of the team.”
BIRD’S BOLD CENTRE BID
Dragons gun Jack Bird has declared he wants to return to the outside backs under new coach Shane Flanagan in 2024.
The 28-year-old played 26 games under Flanagan at the Sharks in 2016, featuring in the centres under the premiership-winning coach.
Since then he has largely played in the forwards either at lock or in the backrow.
Now Bird is prepared to battle with both Moses Suli and Zac Lomax for the centre spots, with Lomax potentially shifting to the No.1 jersey.
“I’ve played my best footy under Flanno at centre, so that’s where I want to play,” Bird said to NRL.com.
“Especially with how my body is these days, I want to pick my moments.
“Obviously I haven’t played centre in a long time, so I have to work hard. I’m feeling fast enough to play centre. I’m feeling faster than I was last year, that’s for sure.
“I’ve been training at centre and in the back row, but I would like to get away from the forwards and get back to the backs.
“Zac has been training at centre as well and we’ve been chopping and changing. I think Zac can play anywhere on the field, so if I play in the centres put him in the backrow.”
Bird was also dropped to reserve grade last season, being handed a huge wake-up call.
However, this season he believes Flanagan will “get the best out of me” ahead of a potential career-defining season at the Red V.
“I enjoy being coached by Flanno. It’s been refreshing. Me and Flanno get on pretty well, we can chat, we can joke, there’s no BS with him,” Bird said.
“You can’t stuff around with Flanno, he’ll get up you - especially me, he gets up me all the time.”
NOFOALUMA’S TIGERS TRAINING DRAMA
Benji Marshall has found himself in a tough position in his first pre-season as an NRL coach with veteran winger David Nofoaluma reportedly refusing to come to training.
That is according to aSydney Morning Heraldreport which claims Nofoaluma hasn’t been to training since last Wednesday due to unfair treatment by the football department.
The 30-year-old has also lodged a complaint with the Rugby League Players’ Association and following a meeting between the RLPA, the Tigers and Nofoaluma he will return to training on Monday to try and resolve the issues.
The Herald reports Nofoaluma, who is one of the Tigers’ highest-paid players on $500,000 a season, struggled physically at training when he returned last month and recorded a disappointing time trial result.
The Tigers’ coaching staff are driving a new standard at training and haven’t shown Nofoaluma preferential treatment. He reportedly complained about lack of communication and training methods put in place to improve his fitness.
Nofoaluma has played 192 of his 198 NRL games with the Tigers over the last 11 seasons. He is the club's all-time leading tryscorer.
He has two years remaining on his contract but the club has been trying to offload him for the last two years. He played six games for the Storm in 2022 on a loan deal but returned to the Tigers for the 2023 season.
Nofoaluma was mainstay in the NRL side for majority of his career but has struggled to cement his spot on the wing over the last two seasons.
Originally published as South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou reveals positional plan for Jack Wighton
NRL legend Sam Burgess married in secret
Rugby league great Sam Burgess and new wife Lucy have shared magical photos from their fairytale wedding day.
Wok’s secret recipe for Eels success: Ryles’ meeting with NRL revolutionary
The man credited with changing the way rugby league is played in the 20th century has revealed his secret recipe to Parramatta Eels coach Jason Ryles. See what’s in Warren Ryan’s 11 herbs and spices.