Canberra’s Jack Wighton can accept a $3k fine for referee comment

A referee sledge in the final minutes of Canberra’s close win on Sunday has come at a cost for Jack Wighton.

Jack Wighton has been charged with contrary conduct. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Canberra Raiders star Jack Wighton could escape with just a $3000 fine despite being charged by the NRL match review committee for a comment he made to referee Peter Gough in Sunday’s close win over the West Tigers.

Wighton was heard accusing the official of “trying hard” to allow the Tigers to win after he was penalised for a high tackle on Starford To’a in the dying moments of the 22-18 victory.

During the exchange Wighton said to Gough: “You’re trying hard to give this to them. You’re trying hard. That was a good tackle.”

Gough didn’t send Wighton off but responded by telling him to “stop” if he wanted to stay on the field.

The exchange was heard on audio microphones and on Monday morning the match review committee charged Wighton with contrary conduct. The grade 1 charge carries a $3000 fine that balloons to a two-game penalty if he chooses to fight the charge at the judiciary and is unsuccessful.

Canberra remains in fifth position after the win and still in the hunt for a top-four spot.

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Wighton’s penalty comes just a month after Broncos fullback Reece Walsh was suspended for three games for an expletive-laden outburst at referee Chris Butler during a match.

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens took aim at the officials in the aftermath of the loss, which could consign his team to the wooden spoon, upset with two passes, both from Wighton, which set up tries for the Raiders.

“I was pretty disappointed with a few of the decisions. I’ve got to congratulate Rick for coaching a side that didn’t give away one extra set of six, according to our statistician, so very good coaching,” Sheens said sarcastically.

“The first try I was a bit disappointed, I feel there was a forward pass in that try.

“There were a couple, there was one in the second half and the first try, that lea- up pass, looking at it I was pretty unhappy with that, so that’s something I’ll take up with the referees as I do every week.”