‘I’d be filthy’: Raiders look ‘bitter, twisted’ as awkward truth emerges

The Raiders have charged into dangerous territory as the “shattered” club reels from the loss of superstar Jack Wighton.

Jack Wighton has reportedly made his call. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

The Raiders are walking into the dangerous territory of looking “bitter” as the club continues to reel from the loss of Jack Wighton, according to former Test captain Michael Clarke.

The worst kept secret in rugby league was further confirmed on Tuesday with the star playmaker reportedly dropping the bomb on the Raiders that he is leaving to take up a long-term deal with South Sydney.

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The Raiders reportedly offered Wighton $4.4m over four seasons, but the Rabbitohs snuck under their guard with a deal reported to be worth $3.4 million over four years.

The news was followed by a dramatic twist that Canberra has appealed to the NRL to investigate the fine print in the contract Wighton is set to sign with the Rabbitohs.

News Corp first reported that the Raiders had lodged a formal complaint with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

Clarke said the Raiders now risk looking like sore losers as a result of formal complaint.

Reacting to the news alongside Raiders legend Laurie Daley on their Sky Sports Radio show on Wednesday morning, Clarke said the Raiders need to move on quickly.

“This is where, while it’s unfortunate for the Raiders, no matter what’s going on at South Sydney they just have to let this go,” Clarke said.

“You look bitter, you look twisted, you look angry.

Jack Wighton Latrell Mitchell will be together again.

“Even if they find a way and find out that something hasn’t been legitimate or right ... you don’t want Jack there anyway. Jack is now gone.

“... The hardest thing for the Raiders is going to be Jack this year. If he’s made it very clear he doesn’t think the Raiders are going to make a grand final in the next four years that’s going to make it hard for him to look his teammates in the eye this year

“From a Raiders perspective, let it go. He’s gone. You don’t want a player at your club that doesn’t want to be there, no matter how good they are.”

With widespread reports last week suggesting Wighton was motivated by the dream of winning a premiership, he faces a very awkward return to the club’s dressing room this week.

Daley said teammates would not be happy if the cold hard truth is that Wighton doesn’t believe Canberra is capable of challenging for a premiership in the next four years.

“I thought the Raiders have obviously been a big part of Jack’s career and Jack’s been a big part of the Raiders and I thought that relationship there at the end of the day would have been stronger than anything,” Daley said on the Big Sports Breakfast.

“He’s decided to go to South Sydney and nobody can blame you for changing clubs. It’s a decision the player can always make when he’s off-contract.

“The Raiders would be disappointed to lose Jack, they offered him a wonderful deal. We haven’t heard from Jack yet but you’d like to know the reasons why he left. They are talking about he wants to win a premiership.

“But if that’s the case that means he’s playing at a club at the moment that he doesn’t believe will win the comp this year or doesn’t believe will win the comp in the next four years. That mightn’t go down too well with some of the players if that’s the reason why he’s leaving.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie told the show: “I’d be filthy”.

It does not help the dynamic that Wighton was reportedly unable to communicate the news to his teammates before it leaked out on Tuesday afternoon.

Journalist Michelle Bishop told SEN Breakfast on Wednesday Wighton was disappointed he’d been unable to be the first person to break the news to his teammates.

She said the Raiders were “shattered” their rich offer hadn’t been enough to retain him.

Abdo has confirmed that Wighton’s deal would be investigated.

“The salary cap auditor will review the contract and test market value,” he said.

“We haven’t received anything yet (from South Sydney).”

Wighton’s future is reportedly sealed. Picture: NRL Photos / Brett Costello

It’s unsure where Wighton will play for the Rabbitohs but it’s expected he will slot into the left centre position, which puts Isaiah Tass’ career at South Sydney in doubt.

But it has also been suggested that Wighton could play five-eighth with Cody Walker shifting to halfback, which would place questions over Lachlan Ilias’ future with the club.

However, The Australian also reported Wighton will play in the centres on $750,000 in the first two years of his deal, before being upgraded in 2026 and 2027, at which time Damien Cook and/or Cody Walker may have retired.

Wighton is close friends with Cameron Murray, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.

However, the move has raised plenty of questions as despite Wighton seemingly taking a reduced deal, it would take up a lot of salary cap for only a few players.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield suggested up to eight off-contract Rabbitohs stars could be forced to look elsewhere.

Meanwhile, NRL great Corey Parker on Tuesday suggested the saga has only just begun and said Wighton’s move to the Rabbitohs “had a smell about it” as soon as the interest from the Rabbitohs was first revealed.