Jack Wighton breaks silence on controversial South Sydney Rabbitohs defection

Jack Wighton’s decision to quit Canberra for the Rabbitohs has divived the rugby league world — and now the Raiders star has spoken out about the controversial move.

Jack Wighton and Ricky Stuart.

NRL star Jack Wighton has spoken publicly for the first time about his shock defection, describing his controversial decision to quit Canberra for Souths as “bittersweet.”

Wighton signed a four-year deal with Souths this week with Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou describing the media attention around the move as a “circus.”

The NRL is yet to approve the four-year deal with Canberra demanding a salary cap investigation given Wighton’s contract at Souths was $1m less over the four-years than his offer at Canberra.

Souths hope the NRL will reach a decision by the weekend.

“It’s bittersweet, but I’ve still got the rest of this year to make more great memories,” Wighton told 7 News.

“It was time for a change.

“I’ve had 14 years down here so (I will) soak up the times and the moments in the beautiful capital and enjoy it.

“Now everything is sorted, it is business time and we get in the game, have some fun and enjoy this last part of the chapter at the Raiders and make the most of it.

“All the boys know the way I operate and the way I operate is to give my all every time I take the field and leave no stone unturned.”

Jack Wighton has described his controversial decision to quit Canberra for Souths as “bittersweet.” Picture: NRL Photos

Wighton said he was home feeding his chickens when news emerged of his move to Souths.

“I was down the back giving the chooks a bit of a feed and the phone started going mad and I found out the news had been broken,” he said.

Wighton appeared unconcerned at some vile online abuse directed at him after he announced his departure from Canberra.

“That’s another thing that’s very uncontrollable, the old sticks and stones saying,” Wighton said.

By signing with Souths, Wighton rejected a massive offer from Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins.

“Wayne is an absolute gentleman, I’ve got the utmost respect for Wayne and I didn’t get the chance to let him know before it broke so I got around to doing that,” Wighton said.

Asked how he would cope in bold and brash Sydney, Wighton said: “That’s the unknown. The thing is I’ve taken it and I’ll give 100 per cent and we’ll see how it rides out.”

Demetriou on Thursday described criticism of Wighton as a “circus”, with the Rabbitohs coach confident the NRL would approve the deal.

Wighton’s decision to join South Sydney in 2024 has been slammed by some people who have questioned the validity of the deal.

Canberra went so far as to formally lodge their $4.4 million contract offer with the NRL to show what they thought his market value was worth.

Jack Wighton’s Rabbitohs deal is $1m less over the four-years than his offer at Canberra. Picture: Getty Images

“It‘s a circus with agenda-driven people saying things that they have no information about,” Demetriou said.

“The reality is we‘re comfortable with it, we’ll go to the NRL. Jack’s comfortable, it’s all above board so we’ve got no problems.”

Demetriou admitted mid-season signings were difficult, saying: “I understand that it‘s tough when a player has to do this in-season.

“That‘s not ideal. We went through it with Adam (Reynolds) as well and he made the decision to go and he was outstanding for the rest of the year as I’m sure Jack will be.

“But everyone knows it‘s not ideal that players are signing contracts with this long to go before the season when they’re at their current clubs. I‘ve got no doubt that he’ll be ripping in for Ricky (Stuart) and the Raiders. Hopefully they can have a good season and Jack can leave on good terms.”

SURPRISE FACTOR THAT HELPED SOUTHS SEAL WIGHTON COUP

By Brent Read, David Riccio

South Sydney have confirmed Jack Wighton will join the club next season on a four-year deal, revealing the Rabbitohs’ Indigenous heritage played a decisive role in convincing the NSW and Australian back to move to Redfern.

Wighton, a seven-time Indigenous All Star, rejected more lucrative offers from Canberra and the Dolphins to commit his future to Souths, where he will play alongside good mates Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Cameron Murray.

Rabbitohs head of football Mark Ellison said South Sydney’s respect and recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and causes was a key to convincing Wighton that his future lay with the Rabbitohs.

“Jack Wighton is one of the elite players in our competition and it is wonderful to be able to add him to our squad for the following four seasons,” Ellison said.

“He has shown both at the Raiders and in representative teams that he can excel at any level. In our discussions with him over the past few weeks, and in his performances on the field over the past decade, he has shown that he will add great value to our team on the park and to our club off the field.

Shaquai Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Latrell Mitchell.

“He is attracted to the great Indigenous heritage of our club, to the respect and recognition we have for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and causes, and the fantastic work of Souths Cares in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

“He spoke to us about the family feel at the club and the obvious brotherhood amongst the playing group. Here he will be able to play alongside some of his great mates as well as representative and former club teammates in Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray, Damien Cook, Campbell Graham, Alex Johnston, Isaiah Tass, Shaquai Mitchell and Siliva Havili.

“He was also very impressed by the facilities at our new training base at the USANA Rabbitohs Centre in Maroubra and he feels as though he can help us achieve our collective goal of more premiership success for this club.

“We feel like he can play his best football with us over the next four seasons and we know he will help us win football games on the field, but he will also help enrich the lives of those in the Rabbitohs and Souths Cares’ communities as well.”

Wighton is expected to play in the centres when he joins Souths, although they indicated in their announcement that he also had the size to play at lock or in the second row.

HEARTBROKEN STUART SLAMS NRL TRANSFER SYSTEM

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has slammed the NRL current contract model and has told Raiders fans the club did everything possible to re-sign Jack Wighton.

In breaking his silence on Wighton’s shock defection to South Sydney, Stuart released a press statement through the club’s media channels.

The passionate Canberra coach revealed the club’s plan to replace Wighton while stating it was unfair to fans that their biggest name player be allowed to sign with a rival club and appear wearing a South Sydney jersey in a digitally altered image in The Daily Telegraph, just nine weeks into a season.

Ricky Stuart and Jack Wighton.

“Yesterday, Jack informed the club that he would not be re-signing with the Raiders beyond this season,” Stuart said.

“I want to reassure you all that the club did everything possible to keep Jack at the Raiders and we wanted nothing more than to see him reach 300 games and become a one-club player.

“I want to let our loyal members and fans know that I bleed green as much as you do, and as much as it hurts today, our future is still ahead of us, and we will continue on the path we best see fit to give this club the success it deserves.

“As a club, we believe the current contracting system where players can sign well out from the end of their current contract is flawed. It is not fair to you who I see as our major stakeholders, the club, and as importantly the players.

“I know it would have been hard for you, our Raiders fans, because I know what the feeling was like for me, to see an image of Jack in a Souths jersey (digitally altered) on the back page of a Sydney paper today.

Stuart says the Raiders did everything possible to retain Wighton.

“What we can do, is to assure you that the club will continue to invest in our successful development and pathways systems and continue to give players the opportunity to represent you and our great club, like so many have done over the last 40-plus years.

“I personally won’t rest in my drive to make this club successful for you. Rest assured the current season is still our number one focus and priority. We appreciate all of your support, and we can’t wait to see you at the footy.”

Originally published as Jack Wighton breaks silence on controversial South Sydney Rabbitohs defection