Many questions have been raised about the legitimacy of Jack Wighton’s future in the halves at the Canberra Raiders.
Yet if their 26-20 victory over the Newcastle Knights is anything to go by then Wighton may just have found his niche.
Wighton was an essential cog in the Green Machine’s win, setting up a try before kicking a vital 40/20 late in the game and proving many doubters wrong in the process.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said the club as a whole had great confidence in the 21-year-old.
“It’s like any of your halves; you touch the ball more than any player on the field. He’s learning how to play at six and there’s going to be mistakes in Jack but there’s going to be a lot of upside in Jack’s career,” Stuart said.
“We’re better off getting him into it now instead of sitting back and waiting until Round 12 or 14 and trying to make him a six – we’re better off getting him and getting some combinations ready now.”
Raiders captain Terry Campese couldn’t help but agree with his coach highlighting that Wighton is on the right track.
“We know what kind of player Jack is and he’s going to be a tremendous half and he showed glimpses of that tonight,” Campese said.
While Campese is attempting to build a new halves combination with Wighton, the club is unlucky not to be two from two so far this season. Campese can only see the upside to the Raiders 2014 performances.
“It’s a real character we’re starting to build but it’s still early days – we’ve got a lot to build toward,” Campese said.
Stuart added: “Off the back of a lot of individual efforts – the classy pieces of plays from our halves and the people on the edge defensively – it was a real team effort.”
Yet if their 26-20 victory over the Newcastle Knights is anything to go by then Wighton may just have found his niche.
Wighton was an essential cog in the Green Machine’s win, setting up a try before kicking a vital 40/20 late in the game and proving many doubters wrong in the process.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said the club as a whole had great confidence in the 21-year-old.
“It’s like any of your halves; you touch the ball more than any player on the field. He’s learning how to play at six and there’s going to be mistakes in Jack but there’s going to be a lot of upside in Jack’s career,” Stuart said.
“We’re better off getting him into it now instead of sitting back and waiting until Round 12 or 14 and trying to make him a six – we’re better off getting him and getting some combinations ready now.”
Raiders captain Terry Campese couldn’t help but agree with his coach highlighting that Wighton is on the right track.
“We know what kind of player Jack is and he’s going to be a tremendous half and he showed glimpses of that tonight,” Campese said.
While Campese is attempting to build a new halves combination with Wighton, the club is unlucky not to be two from two so far this season. Campese can only see the upside to the Raiders 2014 performances.
“It’s a real character we’re starting to build but it’s still early days – we’ve got a lot to build toward,” Campese said.
Stuart added: “Off the back of a lot of individual efforts – the classy pieces of plays from our halves and the people on the edge defensively – it was a real team effort.”
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