Blues utility Jack Wighton says Origin intercept pass will ‘eat away’ at him

A match-defining intercept pass will “eat away” at Blues rookie Jack Wighton as the Raiders star tries to pick up the pieces from a forgettable Origin debut.

Wighton’s all or nothing play didn’t come off. AAP Image/Darren England.

• GUN: Blues halves contenders on the march

• REPORT CARD: Who gets a pass?

A match-defining intercept pass will “eat away” at Blues rookie Jack Wighton.

Wighton went for the all-or-nothing play, only for his pass to land in the grasp of Maroons flyer Dane Gagai, who raced 95m to score a try in the 70th minute which turned the game.

The scores were level at the time and with Latrell Mitchell in the sin bin, Wighton almost created a matchwinning play for the Blues.

Had Gagai not plucked the ball out of the air, Josh Addo-Carr would have scored and Wighton would have been celebrated for the biggest play of his career.

“I just backed my instincts,” Wighton said. “I thought I made the right call. It turned out not to be the right one. He read it very well.

LISTEN! Check out who nailed their Origin predictions and how NRL stars prepare differently for the big stage. Join Matty, Kenty and Finch for the best rugby league podcast in the game.

“You’re on the big stage and you try and make the big plays. That one did not come off.

“I’ve just got to live with it. It’s a big thing. I’m getting better at letting things slide but this one is going to eat away at me for a little bit because it’s the biggest arena in Australian sport.

“I made the play, I’ll live with the play.”

Blues coach Brad Fittler heaped praise on Wighton despite the pass.

It was a turbulent debut for the Raiders five-eighth, who started his first senior match from the interchange bench.

He was called upon with 24 minutes remaining when Fittler made the bold move to replace Cody Walker, just as the Blues were losing momentum. Wighton closed out the game in the back-row.

Wighton’s all or nothing play didn’t come off. AAP Image/Darren England.

“It was (hard starting from the bench),” Wighton said. “I had good people around me, which made it a little bit easier.

“It was a different type of challenge trying to hold that energy system. I was cheering (when Fittler told me to go on at five-eighth).

“I’d played all year there week in, week out. That’s where I’m most comfortable.

“I tried slotting straight in. I thought about it all week. I wanted to take on any challenge they gave me.

“Individually, I can be better. As a team, we spoke about how we could be better.

“I’m truly blessed. I didn’t get the outcome I wanted. But being able to pull on that jersey for the first time in that arena was amazing.”

Wighton was on debut. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Wighton could push for a starting five-eighth position should Blues selectors opt against picking Walker in game two.

An on-field setback is little compared to what Wighton has faced in the past 12 months.

He feared for his playing career and starred down the prospect of a jail term after a boozy assault in Canberra last year.

That experience will help him brush aside the intercept pass.

“It’s football,” Wighton said. “I still have my beautiful kids to jump into bed and cuddle with at night.

“I have this week’s game (for Canberra) and I’ll go from there. I’ll try and make it up and get back in form.

“You go back to basics and play consistent footy.”