Canberra Raiders five eighth Jack Wighton retires from representative football

[radicalraider]

Canberra Raiders star Jack Wighton considers quitting representative football



Jack Wighton is considering dropping another bombshell with the Canberra Raiders star contemplating making himself unavailable for NSW. Several sources have confirmed that Wighton has been mulling over his representative future which could lead to him walking away from higher honours permanently. It is understood the Blues hierarchy are aware of Wighton’s potential unavailability as they ramp up plans for their opening State of Origin team.

Read more: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 4d5f902a52

Origin legend stunned as Wighton set to make shock rep footy call: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... fc2116beb9

[Rick]

Weird. Anyone got access to the article?


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[kona_dream]

Probably Jack driving up his contract value. Look I will be likely be available during the rep games. That should be worth another $100k a season for a club. Doesn’t stop him playing though.

[RedRaider]

I could understand Jack being unhappy with Fittler. He was MOTM in Game 1 last year, then missed Game 2 due to Covid and was not selected in the 17 for Game 3. That would have hurt.

Also Origin footy is as hard as it gets, so he may be considering his longevity in the game. I am a Blues supporter, but I can't recall a Qld player ever making themselves unavailable for Origin, as people like Jamie Lyon did and now possibly Jack. Happy to be corrected if that's not right.

[Off]

Still gets paid.

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[Finchy]

Pretty sure Jason Smith turned down QLD when selected, when he was playing for us

[jimmy82]

princess go to dolphins please

[FROG]

I agree. I hope he goes somewhere else too. We win more games without him for a reason and it ain't because frawley is some superstar. He was lucky to be on 800k. No way we should offer him a cent more

[gangrenous]

Also Origin footy is as hard as it gets, so he may be considering his longevity in the game. I am a Blues supporter, but I can't recall a Qld player ever making themselves unavailable for Origin, as people like Jamie Lyon did and now possibly Jack. Happy to be corrected if that's not right.

Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk both retired from rep footy before finishing at club level.

Australia halfback Cooper Cronk announces shock representative retirement: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/austra ... 50a2398a97

Smith: Why I'm retiring from rep football: https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/05/15/cam ... mediately/

[bonehead]

Cam Smith killed Qld with a late pull out on Kevvy

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[Choc Magic]

The timing of this origin snub is suss as. Not a certainty to be selected, so makes himself 'unavailable'. Retaining the 'Origin star value' on potential contracts.

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[NoMan]

Maybe he just doesn't want to go into camp just to ride the bench as 18th man. It would definitely help in his sales pitch to the Dolphins though.

[RedRaider]

Also Origin footy is as hard as it gets, so he may be considering his longevity in the game. I am a Blues supporter, but I can't recall a Qld player ever making themselves unavailable for Origin, as people like Jamie Lyon did and now possibly Jack. Happy to be corrected if that's not right.

Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk both retired from rep footy before finishing at club level.

Australia halfback Cooper Cronk announces shock representative retirement: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/austra ... 50a2398a97

Smith: Why I'm retiring from rep football: https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/05/15/cam ... mediately/

Thanks Gangers.

[radicalraider]

Was this a claws in his 4 yr contract. Has he agreed to terms

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders five eighth Jack Wighton retires from representative football

Canberra Raiders star Jack Wighton has retired from representative football, ruling himself out of Origin contention in a massive blow to the NSW Blues. His decision was confirmed on Monday morning, just six weeks before the Origin opener on May 31.

“Jack spoke to Freddy and has told him of his disappointing decision to retire from representative football,” NSW selector and assistant Greg Alexander said. “He has said that he wants to focus on family and club footy. It’s a blow for us. He has been an important part of our squad for the last five years and would have been in the mix again. We’ve loved having Jack in camp and in the team.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/state- ... 7aef7ceb7f

Jack Wighton has informed NSW coach Brad Fittler that he has retired from representative football, just six weeks out from the first game of the State of Origin series: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/blues- ... 5d101.html

Canberra Raiders star Jack Wighton retires from NSW Blues and State of Origin: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

[Canberra Milk]

Odd timing to me. Comes across as less marquee if retires from rep footy now

[Azza]

Lube mobil will come to you, that's Furdeen Firdy Firdy Two.

[Roger Kenworthy]

Odd timing to me. Comes across as less marquee if retires from rep footy now

He also looks at his best in rep football. I suppose he already knows the two teams driving his price up though and they're both thirsty.

[radicalraider]

Coz Wayne said so if he wants the 5 yr 5 million $ deal.

[greeneyed]

Hearing that the reasoning is that he wants to focus on winning a premiership.

This is speculation only, but it sounds an awful lot like Wayne Bennett is in his ear.

[deanoman]

Wighton in his career has won a Clive churchil, Dally M, a World Cup and a few origins series. The only thing he hasn’t achieved is a grand final win.

It makes perfect sense to me this decision. Besides making himself more valuable to which ever club picks him up, he puts his team in the best chance of playing finals footy and winning a GF.

[Northern Raider]

Odd timing to me. Comes across as less marquee if retires from rep footy now

Trying to emulate Cooper Cronk. Only one real flaw in that approach. Well maybe more than one.

[nachopants]

While we're at it I'd also like to take this opportunity to declare myself unavailable for NSW or the Kangaroos.

[Northern Raider]

While we're at it I'd also like to take this opportunity to declare myself unavailable for NSW or the Kangaroos.

Nek minnit. Qld announce nachopants as their latest debutant.

[Ruben Daley]

I don't get it. Does anyone really think Jack's rep duties are what's stood between him and a premiership? I could've sworn he played all three games in 2019 when he had his best club year and made the GF.

I could understand Turbo doing this because of his injury record but I can't see how it helps Jack personally other than as a potential selling point to a suitor. But I think his people should be telling him to be wary of any club who wants him to give up rep footy. Doesn't seem like they've got Jack's best interests at heart.

And also we're talking the Dolphins here. Jack not playing a couple of games of Origin - noting he probably wouldn't have got selected for Game One - isn't going to make a difference to their premiership chances.

[Finchy]

Considering he'll likely be leaving for a pay cut at the Dolphins compared to what we offered him, turning down potential match payments for Origin and Test matches will cost him maybe more than $100K per year. Crazy.

[Seiffert82]

Hearing that the reasoning is that he wants to focus on winning a premiership.

This is speculation only, but it sounds an awful lot like Wayne Bennett is in his ear.

That's exactly what it sounds like.

Wayne Bennett is the idiot football whisperer.

Wayne Bennett has the ability to tell a player what Wayne Bennett wants, but make the player believe that it is actually what the player wants.

I don't care if Wighton stays or goes. In fact, it's absolutely time Stuart moves on from Jack Wighton in the halves. What I can't cop is some sort of Bull argument that the Dolphins will help Wighton achieve his goals of winning a premiership, nor do I believe that Bennett would advise Wighton the same way if he was Jack's origin coach.

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[GreenMachine]

Can he retire from 5/8 too?

[Raider of d Lost Ark]

Just some more comments regarding Jack ruling himself out of State of Origin

Jack Wighton pulls pin on Origin in huge Blues blow: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/jack- ... e727fa7997

[Green Hornet]

Isn't Bennett only coaching for 2 years before handing the reins to Kristian Wolf?

Dolphins aren't winning the comp next year, let's be honest and this will leave him with an inexperience NRL coach for the remainder of his contract.

If he goes, then so be it.

The delayed annoucement after offering him the Raiders deal smells like he is going to move as he will get his money either way from the Raiders or Dolphins.

The retirement from rep football is a strange one and can't see the logic behind it with at least 4 years left in the game.

If you are wanting the million dollars, then you should be winning a premiership for your team not relying on a team to be winning it for you.

[Love4Noa]

Something isn't well here.

I've been ridiculously vocal about how woeful I think Jack has been.

And whether he goes or stays is pretty meh in terms of his well being.

To play like he did yesterday, to have this contract saga, to announce retiring from rep football - something's up.

I don't know what it is, but as a person - I hope he's okay.

[Off]

Kudos charch on Benny being the idiot footballer whisperer

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[Billy Walker]

Could be Matt Rose’s advice. Being seemingly available for club through the origin period makes him a better proposition for the clubs bidding for him. Sign a contract and announce a rep footy comeback….

[T_R]

While we're at it I'd also like to take this opportunity to declare myself unavailable for NSW or the Kangaroos.

And thus my Tomb should be inscrib'd above,
Here the forsaken Virgin rests from love.

[jimmy82]

Could be Matt Rose’s advice. Being seemingly available for club through the origin period makes him a better proposition for the clubs bidding for him. Sign a contract and announce a rep footy comeback….

So you’re going to turn down Nathan Cleary because he plays origin? Or pay him less because he misses 3 games.
It sounds silly when you read it doesn’t it