Jack Wighton on his toes for NSW after copping a Ricky Stuart spray

Jack Wighton hasn’t played in the centres for years but he has two coaching tactics preparing him: Brad Fittler’s support and Ricky Stuart’s hairdryer treatment after a second-half shocker for Canberra.

Playing for NSW is an entirely different level of motivation. Image: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

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It’s the Ricky Stuart spray still ringing in Jack Wighton’s ears that has the Canberra star primed to deliver his finest form for the Blues in next Wednesday’s Origin decider.

Wighton produced a shocking second-half performance in Canberra’s 22-16 loss to Parramatta in Darwin last Saturday.

The NSW centre starred in the first half with a try, a try assist and strong running metres as the Raiders raced to a commanding 16-0 lead at the break.

His fortunes dipped after that with a host of basic errors opening the door for the Eels to charge home and claim a comeback win.

The pain of defeat still lingers for Wighton thanks to some stern words from Stuart, who labelled the Eels’ defeat Canberra’s worst of the season.

Wighton knows he let himself and his team down. Image: AAP Image/Craig Golding

“Ricky (Stuart) definitely wasn’t happy,” Wighton said. “We really let ourselves down.

“We talked about it in the sheds and it was just one of those days.

“We had a game there for the taking and we just made too many errors, myself included.

“It was very humid up there in Darwin and we didn’t do the job that we needed to do.

“I started alright and then had a bad period through no lack of effort.

“That is just the way the game turned out and it is something I can’t change. But now I’m here with the Blues to do a job and that is what I’m looking forward to.”

Playing for NSW is an entirely different level of motivation. Image: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Unlike the flustered appearance he sported during the second half against Parramatta last Saturday, Wighton looked calm and collected in Blues camp in Bondi on Tuesday.

The Raiders five-eighth credits his confidence to the support of NSW coach Brad Fittler in backing him to play out of position in Origin.

“It is massive,” he said.

“I haven’t played in the centres for four or five years, so it meant a lot for him to put the faith in me to go out there and do a job.

“That is something that really inspires you knowing you have someone like that behind you.”

Wighton’s emergence on the Origin stage this season has coincided with arguably career-best form at Canberra.

The Orange-born back has scored six tries in his 14 games for the Raiders to date.

For all his success at NRL level, Wighton believes an Origin series victory with NSW would top his personal list of achievements.

“It would be amazing,” he said. “It is something you dream of doing, so it is unreal to be in this position.”

Originally published as Jack Wighton on his toes for NSW after copping a Ricky Stuart spray