NRL Grand Final 2019: Jack Wighton doesn’t blame referee Ben Cummins’ six again call
Canberra star Jack Wighton was at the centre of the most controversial call of last year’s grand final against the Roosters, but maintains the referee wasn’t to blame for his side’s heartbreaking defeat.
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Raiders star Jack Wighton has revealed he does not blame referee Ben Cummins’ controversial “six again” call for last year’s grand final defeat.
On the eve of the rematch against premiers Sydney Roosters, Wighton said while he’s refused to watch a replay of the 14-8 loss last October, he’s not bitter about the match-defining decision.
“I see it with a different approach, we had a lot more opportunities to win the game, we put ourselves in different positions to win elsewhere so we can’t just blame that,” Wighton said.
“That’s football, it happens to everyone.
“It can’t be changed. There are many other calls that could have gone against us that got us to the grand final as well.
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“Unfortunately it was a call that went against us in the big dance but it can’t be changed.”
Cummins earned the ire of all non-Roosters fans when he made one of the most infamous blunders in grand final history, calling “six again” after the Raiders had kicked a bomb and regained possession, only to revert to “last tackle” seconds later with the score at 8-all with nine minutes remaining.
Wighton was the Raiders player who went to ground, resulting in a turnover to the Roosters, and signalled furiously about having seen Cummins’ “six again” call.
Moments later, James Tedesco scored the matchwinning try at the other end of the field.
“I’ve avoided watching the replay altogether, there’s no need to watch it, I was there,” Wighton said.
“I know how it went, I know how I felt.”
Wighton won the Clive Churchill Medal in the loss, and after signing a $3 million, four-year contract extension with the Raiders earlier this year is desperate to deliver the title to the club he debuted for in 2012.
“I’d love to repay the club with a premiership for everything they’ve done for me and my family,” Wighton said.
“I’ve got a lot of love for the jersey and I’m pretty confident I’ll be a one-club man.
“I’d love to pull off a grand final win for them.
“I’ve been here through the days we were terrible, and to be a part of the times we’ve started to do better is a great feeling, and makes you hungrier to get to the decider again because it’s the best feeling ever.
“When we do get going the city gets behind us and it’s amazing, it’s a beautiful place down here. A lot of people don’t see it like we see it, but we love our town and we’ve got a lot of pride in our club.”
Wighton has warned critics not to write off the seventh-placed Raiders amid their injury crisis, with stars Josh Hodgson and Bailey Simonsson suffering season-ending injuries last weekend while Sia Soliola, John Bateman, Emre Guler and Corey Horsburgh are sidelined for extended periods.
“We’ve got such an expansive attacking team, I feel like even with the injuries we’re just starting to click, me and (halves partner) George [Williams] are starting to set up both sides of the field and push on things,” Wighton said.
“Our forwards are finally starting to find their legs after a break and adjusting to the rule change. So I wouldn’t rule us out.
“We have a tough task on our hands, we’ve had a lot of injuries so we’re just going to have to step up a little bit more. It’s hard enough playing in this comp with a full squad, let alone with all the injuries we’ve got at the moment.
“Every man in the squad is going to have to stand up now.”
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Wighton, 27, does not have to look far for his own motivation.
“Number one is my family, my two little girls, Aaliyah (five) and Ariah (two) they’re definitely my biggest drivers in life,” he said.
“Looking after them is my main priority.
“And then it’s a little bit within, a lot of people say you can’t do it so you want to do it.
“I’ve had it heaps of times, I’ve had a couple of poor years, I’ve put myself in bad situations, I’ve now become clear on what the game needs of me and what the club needs of me.”
Originally published as NRL Grand Final 2019: Jack Wighton doesn’t blame referee Ben Cummins’ six again call