NRL 2025: Rabbitohs star Jack Wighton sings the praises of supercoach Wayne Bennett

Jack Wighton has joined teammate Latrell Mitchell on a booze ban ahead of the 2025 NRL season, with the Rabbitohs star providing a hilarious and brutally honest response when discussing the choice. WATCH THE VIDEO.

South Sydney star Jack Wighton has revealed how Wayne Bennett’s honesty sessions have prompted an almost entire personal transformation to play under the supercoach.

Just weeks after Bennett tore into the playing squad upon arrival in Maroubra, Wighton has become the first player to open up on the immediate impact of the new coach.

“Obviously he gives you honest truth, but he puts it into perspective,” Wighton said.

“He has goals he has for us, what we deserve and what we dish out, work ethic, all that kind of stuff. It was a really good chat, and, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Entering his 14th season in the top grade, Wighton is about to live a life long dream of being coached by Bennett, desperate to live up to the legendary coaches’ famously high standards.

Putting last season’s collapse behind him, the former NSW and Kangaroos representative is intent on being part of a clean slate at the Rabbitohs.

(L-R) Jack Wighton is looking forward to working with Wayne Bennett.

“It’s just starting from scratch, forgetting what’s happened,” Wighton said.

“Learning a lot of new things … learn a lot more from Wayne, when he comes down and just enjoy footy again.”

Wighton confirmed a positional switch to the centres, where he was started his career at South Sydney following his dramatic move from Canberra.

But the former Dally M medallist only jagged eight games in the backline before having to shift into the halves after Lachlan Ilias hit a rough patch of form.

With English halfback Lewis Dodd set to arrive at the club in the coming weeks, Wighton has started preparation for a full-time shift to the outside backs.

He’s also joined teammate Latrell Mitchell on a booze ban for the next six months.

“Just started, 18 days in bra … not counting,” Wighton said.

“It’s only for me, I just wanna have a bit of fun, enjoy my family, get into these activities outside of footy, train hard and put my best foot forward on the field.”

Jack Wighton training with sprint coach Roger Fabri. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Roger Fabri (L) is adamant he can unlock a new level in Wighton (R). Picture: Rohan Kelly

Wighton will be 32 when next season begins, but he still believes he can be one of the elite outside backs in the NRL.

He has teamed up with sprint guru Roger Fabri in attempt to broaden his game.

“I’m getting a slight bit older, in the body … not the head, so just trying to keep up with the young boys, and it’s always good to learn stuff, new stuff,” Wighton said.

“It’s just a new thing I’m trying to learn and having a bit of fun while doing it.”

The Rabbitohs return for pre-season on Monday, with Wighton focused on delivering on his big-money move away from the Raiders.

Fabri is adamant he can unlock a new level in his latest client.

“You will see him run a little bit further and a little bit faster than what he has done the previous years, and I know that he can still run the length of the field,” Fabri said.

“I think the one thing that you can catch out of that is that most of these athletes are great, but to actually be elite, the great have to sacrifice.”

Wighton, who is expecting to become a dad for the fourth time before Christmas, also opened up on a new lifestyle Instagram account that will take fans behind the scenes into his life.

“Started a little page, ‘Sealegs Adventures.’ So I’ll just post all the stuff I’m doing around the community and out in the water and bush, so having a bit of fun,” Wighton said.

Originally published as NRL 2025: Rabbitohs star Jack Wighton sings the praises of supercoach Wayne Bennett