NRL and Canberra Raiders ready to take hard line as Jack Wighton faces nine criminal charges

THE NRL and Canberra are facing yet another difficult decision with Raiders star Jack Wighton facing nine seperate criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in a bloodied fight.

Jack Wighton’s future is on the line. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

THE NRL and Canberra are facing yet another difficult decision based on ethical standards with Raiders star Jack Wighton facing nine seperate criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in a bloodied fight in the ACT.

With the likelihood of his career at risk, Wighton spent last Friday in urgent meetings with his legal team after receiving notice to attend the ACT Magistrates court at 9am on Wednesday.

The charges - while unable to be revealed by The Sunday Telegraph - are believed to be varying in seriousness.

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Jack Wighton’s future is on the line. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

The charges against Wighton also involve more than three individuals.

As first reported by The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, Wighton, 25, is alleged to have been involved in an incident outside a Canberra nightclub five weeks before the start of the NRL season.

The Raiders contacted NRL Intergity Unit boss Karyn Murphy immediately upon learning of Wighton’s alleged involvement in February.

Murphy has remained in regular contact while the police report of the incident has been sighted by Wighton and his solicitor.

ACT Police have obtained CCTV footage of the brawl.

NRL Integrity Unit boss Karyn Murphy.

Having joined the Raiders as a teenager, Wighton has long been regarded as future star by the club - evident in his current contract which was recently extended until 2020.

However, the NRL and Canberra will be forced into deciding whether to tear up that same contract should he be found guilty.

Under mass pressure in the wake of rubber-stamping controversial Brisbane prop Matt Lodge’s return to the game, the NRL are also on the verge of offering another lifeline to Todd Carney.

The Raiders have time and again taken a hard-line stance against players who bring the game into disrepute, highlighted by the departures of Blake Ferguson, Joel Monaghan, Josh Dugan and Carney.

Blake Austin’s Raiders career isn’t over yet. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

The club will have no hesitation severing ties with Wighton, should he be found guilty.

However, the Raiders would undoubtedly demand support from the NRL - something they have claimed in the past didn’t happen - in ensuring a rival club doesn’t benefit should they be forced to let Wighton go.

Wighton, who became a father for the second time on Thursday, was a late withdrawal from the Raiders’ first win of the season against Canterbury on Thursday night.

Wednesday will prove crucial in determining whether he has played his last in the lime green jersey.

In much less serious circumstances, off-contract half Blake Austin has won a reprieve from coach Ricky Stuart as he attempts to continue continue his career in Canberra..

Having been dropped to the Raiders feeder-team Mounties on Saturday, Austin was spared from featuring in the second-tier match due to NRL half Sam Williams suffering a knee injury in the club’s win over the Bulldogs.

The injury will sideline Williams for the next three weeks.

Austin will take Williams’ spot in the Raiders’ starting line-up against Parramatta at GIO Stadium on Saturday.

Originally published as NRL and Canberra Raiders ready to take hard line as Jack Wighton faces nine criminal charges