NRL transfer news 2023: Jack Wighton courted by South Sydney, but how can they sign him?

As South Sydney prepares to formally meet with Canberra’s Jack Wighton, coach Jason Demetriou explained the salary cap gymnastics that will be needed to pull off the all-time heist.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Campbell Graham of the Rabbitohs scores a try during the round seven NRL match between Dolphins and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on April 13, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has outlined the two-pronged criteria that must be followed before Jack Wighton can be declared a Rabbitoh.

Ahead of a tense 48-hours, where South Sydney are expected to formally meet the Raiders star, Demetriou said he was only willing to press ahead with negotiations if the recruitment of Wighton fit within his strategy of re-signing the club’s biggest names including Keaon Koloamatangi, Campbell Graham, Jai Arrow and Tevita Tatola.

The star quartet are four of 14 Rabbitohs off-contract at the end of 2014.

Wighton would need to take less money - around $900,000 per-season - than what the Raiders have already tabled which stands at $1.1 million over four years.

Star second-rower Keaon Koloamatangi is in line for an upgraded contract after a massive few years. Picture: Getty

The Dolphins are also toying with a big-money play for Wighton, who announced his retirement from representative football this week.

“Firstly, I have to find out if Jack wants to be a Rabbitoh,’’ Demetriou said.

“I said it the other day, he’s a wonderful talent who would add further quality to our side.

“No doubt, he would fit right in at South Sydney given his relationships that already stand (with Latrell Mitchell in particular).

“However, we have a (salary cap) ceiling.

“Yes, we have money in our cap, but we also have a carefully laid-out plan to retain some of our most important players.

“There are players at our club who we have plans to be one-club Rabbitohs. They are all aware that we’re building something special here.

“It will be a case of Jack wanting to come to Souths for less money than probably what he could afford elsewhere.

“What we won’t be doing is impacting on our ability to keep this squad together.’’

Campbell Graham has forced himself into representative teams - and is another who could could demand a bigger slice of the salary cap pie. Picture: Getty

WHAT WIGHTON’S REP RETIREMENT MEANS FOR $4.4M CONTRACT CALL

By Dean Ritchie

“Proud” Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has backed Jack Wighton’s shock decision to quit representative football to focus solely on the Raiders.

But could it be a key indicator that Wighton wants to remain at the club?

Wighton suddenly ended his rep career on Monday just six weeks before Origin I in Adelaide this year.

In a meeting with Stuart, Wighton said he wanted to spend more time with his partner, Monisha Lew-Fatt, and their three kids while also concentrating heavily on the Raiders.

Teammates are quietly confident Wighton will spurn rival offers to remain a Raider and cement himself as a one-club legend.

“He is not the only player to make the same decision at the same age. And when he spoke to me about wanting to put as much of his time and effort as he possibly can into the club, I was quite proud of that,” Stuart said.

Ricky Stuart talks to Jarrod Croker and Jack Wighton. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“It came from Jack and Mon, his partner. They would have sat down and spoken about this decision. He is at a stage of his career where he wants to put so much effort into winning a competition – they are Jack’s words.

“It’s obviously a personal decision and Jack’s comment to me was that he wanted to spend more time with family and spend more time and effort with the club.”

Canberra has lodged an extremely attractive offer for Wighton although the Dolphins continue to circle.

“It’s a decision that Jack has to make and we are very comfortable with how we have handled the situation,” Stuart said.

“We have now let Jack go away and go through the process of him making his decision. We will let him and management go through all their processes. It would be nice to know soon so both parties can plan for the future.”

Asked whether he was fearful about Wighton defecting to the Dolphins, Stuart said: “I want to keep Jack. It’s not something I’m fearful of — it’s part of this business.”

Stuart denied Wighton’s decision to retire from rep footy came after being omitted from State of Origin III last year.

“No, I don’t believe that at all,” Stuart said. “There was certainly no evidence of that when he spoke to me post World Cup.

“It was a surprise to me too, personally but he has a young family and being away so long is something he has looked at. He had a very successful World Cup and I suppose he felt he was going out on a great high.

“There isn’t a player or coach in the competition not trying to do that. It (the decision) had nothing to do with contracts and nothing to do from a club point of view.

Stuart and Wighton are close - and the pair have spoken candidly about his playing future. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I like my players to represent. I think it’s a big part of their development in becoming better football players. It was his decision and I will support whatever decision he makes.”

Souths skipper Cam Murray added: “It was a bit of a surprise but Jack has made the right decision for himself. Rep footy takes a big chunk out of you. He wants to give his all at club land.”

With Wighton now absent, South Sydney hooker Damien Cook urged NSW to consider choosing Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham.

“Campbell Graham has done more than enough. He has everything you need to be an Origin player. Defensively, he’s got to be the best centre in the game,” Cook said.

“He is also someone I look for yardage to get us out of our own end.”

CANBERRA FIGHT BACK AS BENNETT HOLDS FRESH WIGHTON TALKS

By Peter Badel

Canberra chief executive Don Furner has declared the Raiders are “up for the fight” over Jack Wighton and is confident the Green Machine will stave off Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins to retain the NSW Origin ace.

The Dolphins have ramped-up their poaching attempt, with Bennett having held talks with Wighton’s management in a bid to land Australia’s World Cup winner as the Dolphins’ franchise recruit for 2024 and beyond.

While up to 10 clubs expressed interest in Wighton at one stage, the Dolphins are viewed as the major threat to Canberra’s hopes of retaining the former Dally M Medallist.

The Raiders have tabled a four-year, $4.4 million package to Wighton and held fresh talks with the matchwinning utility on Monday – a meeting that bolstered Canberra’s belief they will trump the Dolphins.

Jack Wighton is closing in on deciding his future – and the Raiders haven’t given up hope of keeping him. Picture: Getty

Furner says the Green Machine won’t stall in the tug-of-war for Wighton in their plan to make the 225-game veteran a triple centurion in the nation’s capital.

“We’re doing everything possible, we’re up for the fight to keep Jack,” Furner said.

“We would love to see Jack Wighton reach 300 games and play out his whole career here.

“We have Jarrod Croker (294 games) who isn’t far away from that milestone and I would love to think that Jack, Jarrod and Josh Papalii (268) can rack up 300 games each for the Raiders.

“Not many clubs can say they have three players all pushing for 300 games at the same time, they have all come through together.

“Our new deal to Jack will help him get to 300 games.

“I know he has been linked with the Dolphins but we think Canberra is the best place for him, but he has a lot to weigh up.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has held talks with Wighton’s management over a move to Queensland. Picture: Getty

“With the bye this weekend, hopefully that can give him time to have a good think about staying here.

“We are truly hoping he will make a call very soon, the bye is as good a time as any to make a decision without disruptions.

“I would like to think Jack will stay.”

Wighton dropped another bombshell by announcing he will retire from representative football, ruling him out of this year’s Origin series for NSW, but Furner insists there was no pressure from the Raiders.

Wighton’s decision to walk away from the Blues and Australia could help him prolong his career at NRL level.

“I am very surprised he has stood down because I felt he had a lot to offer at representative level,” Furner said.

“Jack standing down from rep football would certainly make it easier for him to play another four years of NRL.

“But that (Wighton retiring) wasn’t discussed with us.

“We never said, ‘We will give you four years if you drop Origin’.

“That was never a demand from us, Jack has come to the decision himself, it was purely up to him.”