Jack Wighton ‘reconsidering’ rep retirement ahead of judiciary hearing for alleged bite

Jack Wighton is reportedly reconsidering his retirement from rep footy in the wake of his biting allegation against Newcastle.

Jack Wighton is reportedly reconsidering his retirement from representative football. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Jack Wighton is “reconsidering” his representative retirement amid being referred straight to the NRL judiciary for an alleged bite.

Wighton’s career at the Raiders ended with his side’s extra-time loss to the Knights in their elimination final and he’ll now join the Rabbitohs.

But he could miss the first few rounds of next season at his new club if the 30-year-old cops a suspension at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

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Wighton won the World Cup with Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos last November but announced his representative retirement on the eve of State of Origin this year.

However, with Australia set to play three Tests next month the former Dally M Medal winner is considering making himself available.

“There’s a bit of mail today that Jack is reconsidering,” Brent Read said on NRL 360 on Monday night.

“To help out his suspension?” Phil Rothfield responded.

“It would help,” Read said.

Jack Wighton is reportedly reconsidering his retirement from representative football. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

“So he’s now reconsidering selection for the Australian team, today, that’s a coincidence,” Braith Anasta said.

“You’re very cynical, Braith. I spoke to Mal and he said if Jack wants to make himself available, I won’t consider him until after the judiciary.”

Gorden Tallis then asked if the Roosters were trying to have Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ seven-game ban reduced by earning selection for New Zealand.

“No they’re not because Madge is on record saying he won’t be in the New Zealand side,” Rothfield said.

Jack Wighton (centre) getting put on report against Newcastle. Photo: Getty Images

The NRL 360 panel were divided on whether Wighton deserves to be suspended over the biting incident involving Knights No. 6 Tyson Gamble.

Anasta: I was watching with Matty Johns and we couldn’t believe it. We thought he’d be sent from the field. Yes, Gamble’s arm is in his mouth and it’s a reaction from Wighton, is that how you guys saw it?

Rothfield: I asked Annesley why he wasn’t sent from the field like Proctor was when he got four weeks. He said sometimes there’s different evidence and Proctor’s was more than that one, he thought there might have been a little bit of doubt in Wighton’s one.

Rothfield: Where is the doubt?

The incident when Canberra's Jack Wighton is accused of biting Tyson Gamble.

Tallis: I think there’s a bit of doubt. Pressure coming up against your jaw. I bit my hand and then I pushed my hand hard into my mouth and the one where I pushed hard stayed there longer. So you can have marks without biting, I proved that today. If someone is choking me and pushing really hard up against my teeth, what do you do? There’s going to be pressure and there’s going to be marks and Tyson Gamble goes to the ref and said ‘that’s saliva not sweat’. If someone did that to me, I swear to God…

Rothfield: The thing is if he’d been sent off and then the judiciary find him not guilty, all hell would break loose that it cost Canberra that final. So the refs are under massive pressure.

I said to Annesley, what about the other way around? What if he stays on the field and the Knights get beaten by one and they could have been up against 12 men.

Read: I think leaving him on is the right decision. I don’t think it’s obvious. I think you could mount a case, and he will mount a case, that it wasn’t clear.

@NRLKnights's five-eighth Tyson Gamble’s refusal to testify at an NRL judiciary hearing could prove “fatal” in proving @RaidersCanberra Jack Wighton guilty of biting.

STORY 👉 https://t.co/w74GUOjSj7pic.twitter.com/UhiDgOxsvh

— CODE NRL (@codenrl) September 11, 2023

Tallis: If Tyson Gamble goes to the judiciary and says he bit me and the ref says I believe he bit then that’s it.

Rothfield: The match review committee have looked at it with more angles than we’ve got, more stop frames than we’ve got, and they sent him to the judiciary so they think he bit him.

Isn’t it an admission of guilt Jack saying to the referee ‘what am I meant to do?’

Read: No he’s saying his arm was in my mouth with force.

Rothfield: I think he’ll get four weeks.

Tallis: I’m not saying he didn’t bite him, I’m just saying it’s not clear cut.

Originally published as Jack Wighton ‘reconsidering’ rep retirement ahead of judiciary hearing for alleged bite