Canberra make formal complaint to NRL to investigate Jack Wighton’s South Sydney deal

A sensational salary-cap stoush is set to explode between South Sydney and Canberra after the Raiders lodged formal complaint to the NRL over Jack Wighton’s Rabbitohs deal.

Wayne Bennett. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has missed another big name as the Jack Wighton contract saga exploded, with Canberra calling for the NRL to launch an investigation into the Raiders ace’s new deal at Souths.

News Corp can reveal Raiders bosses have lodged a formal complaint with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo over Wighton’s decision to quit Canberra and link with Souths from next season.

It is the first time in Canberra’s 41-year history that the Raiders have called for NRL salary cap auditors to probe a rival contract.

NRL boss Abdo confirmed on Tuesday night that League Central will put Wighton’s deal under the microscope.

“The salary cap auditor will review the contract and test market value,” he said.

“We haven’t received anything yet (from South Sydney).”

Wighton’s decision to ink a four-year deal with Souths is another crushing blow for Dolphins coach Bennett, who made a last-ditch bid on Sunday night in a bid to poach the NSW Origin star from Canberra.

Raiders lodge a formal salary-cap complaint to the NRL.

The NRL’s new franchise has missed a string of potential franchise players, with Bennett having failed to land Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Brandon Smith and Pat Carrigan.

The Dolphins had offered Wighton a four-year deal worth $4 million and Bennett spoke to Wighton as late as Sunday night in an eleventh-hour attempt to lure the Dally M Medallist to Redcliffe.

But Souths have won the battle - and it has triggered a sensational salary-cap stoush with the Raiders.

Canberra hierarchy have called for Abdo to scrutinise Wighton’s deal with South Sydney to ensure it is salary-cap compliant and on a par with the $1.1 million a season the 30-year-old was offered by the Raiders.

There are concerns Wighton’s Souths deal is laced with third-party arrangements and Canberra want NRL salary-cap auditors to probe the contract when it is formally lodged by the Rabbitohs in the coming days.

Canberra have also taken the unprecedented step of disclosing precise details of their upgraded four-year offer to the NRL to ensure Souths’ deal is of comparable value.

By linking with his good mate Latrell Mitchell at Souths, Wighton will forgo more lucrative offers in order to relocate to Sydney.

An emotional Wighton messaged his Raiders teammates on Tuesday that he had made the decision to leave Canberra after 14 seasons.

The Canberra five-eighth reiterated his commitment to his teammates to finish out the season, and his time with the Raiders, in the most successful way possible.

The Raiders put forward the richest deal and were confident of retaining Wighton on a $4.4 million package worth $1.1m annually, but instead he will switch clubs and positions.

“It’s very sad for the Raiders,” said former Canberra, NSW and Australian prop Michael Weyman, who was at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday for the Anzac Day clash between the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has lost another marquee target. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

“Jack has been at Canberra since he started and all his achievements came through playing for the Raiders.

“As a Raiders fan and former player, I’m upset to see him go but Jack will have his reasons for leaving.

“Canberra will just have to try and move on and find a player as good as Jack.

“It’s a business now. I did the same thing – I left Canberra for St George Illawarra. I wish Jack all the best.”

He will be a centre at South Sydney where he will work with the likes of Mitchell, Cody Walker, Alex Johnston and Campbell Graham in a star-studded backline.

South Sydney are yet to be formally told of Wighton’s decision but that will become a formality in the next few days.

Jack Wighton had a follow up meeting with the Dolphins are meeting them on Thursday. Picture: Fox Sports

The Dolphins will rue their latest failure to secure a marquee star.

Buoyed by the Dolphins’ stunning comeback win over the Titans last Sunday, Bennett leveraged one of the greatest fightbacks in NRL history to sell his Redcliffe vision to Wighton.

Refusing to give up hope of staving off his former club South Sydney, Bennett reached out to Wighton again on Sunday night after watching his Dolphins defy incredible odds to sink the Titans.

In his meeting with the Dolphins, Wighton made it clear he is open to playing any number of positions at the Dolphins.

But Bennett’s Last Stand wasn’t enough. The 225-game veteran is desperate to win a premiership before he retires and believes playing alongside Mitchell and Walker can help Wighton that at a Souths club with the roster to win a title.

Originally published as Canberra make formal complaint to NRL to investigate Jack Wighton’s South Sydney deal