Remember when the Canberra Raiders had momentum? They were everyone’s second team and Jack Wighton was the future of rugby league?
He was a centre, a fullback but most importantly to the Raiders and their fans – he was the man that an organisation builds a club around.
Some likened him to Laurie Daley and that made even more sense when they moved him to five-eighth.
Wighton then won an unlikely Dally M Medal last season when he upset hot favourite Nathan Cleary.
This is an Australian and New South Wales representative player. The million-dollar question is – has Wighton not stepped up this year or has it become an impossible task as the club spluttered from one civil war to the next?
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
You could argue it began after their fairy tale run to the 2019 grand final. Some clubs handle success better than others.
Canberra scratched for every inch again in 2020 but were always swimming against the tide. A huge injury toll and rumours about John Bateman’s future dug away at them. Incredibly, they battled on to the preliminary final but couldn’t withstand the Melbourne Storm.
After the rollercoaster ride all the way to the grand final in ’19, the toll it took on them to keep fighting as intensely as they did for another 12 months would leave them at breaking point by round 1, 2021.
Then another of their Englishmen was on his way back to the United Kingdom. George Williams, admittedly homesick, said he was “kicked out the door” when he was granted a release from his contract in May.
He read the club statement at the same time as everyone else. Williams was adamant he was prepared to play on for the remainder of the season.
“I text to explain my mental well-being to the welfare manager,” Williams began on Twitter.
“I asked for a release weeks ago for the end of the season. Not once did I ask for immediate release but instead of supporting me the club kicked me out the door. Plus I’ve not even signed the release.”
And then there’s Curtis Scott. The troubled outside back who was recently sacked by the Raiders for an off-field incident still under investigation. Scott and his lawyer are considering legal action against the club.
Someone from inside the organisation has been drip-feeding certain media outlets for a very long time in a bid to keep the “brand” as clean as possible.
But there’s been something nasty brewing within the Raiders and where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
So when their season was on the line against the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night, it shouldn’t have shocked anyone that they collapsed in a heap. Death by a thousand cuts.
Wighton never had a chance.
Physically, mentally and statistically – the Raiders just aren’t the side they once were and have been nosediving since 2019 where they led the competition for post contact metres, dummy half runs and total kick metres.
They have topped just one statistical leader board in the last two years.
The Raiders currently led the NRL for most completed tackles on 8,480 – just 118 ahead of St George Illawarra.
Hardly something to hang your hat on.
The Raiders are defending more than any other side in the competition. All the while, they have watched their roster and the quality of their best player – Wighton – deteriorate beyond all recognition.
It has meant that when Wighton does eventually get the ball, it’s to create something, rather than take advantage of momentum. The ‘running’ five-eighth has only gone beyond 100 run metres four times from 21 appearances in 2021 – his worst overall performance since 2013.
After the 40-16 loss that ended their season Ricky Stuart had something interesting thoughts.
“It’s an empty feeling. It’s a shocking feeling because I think we’re a better team than where we’ve ended up on the table,” he said in post-match.
“If we can’t beat that team [the Roosters] out there tonight then we’re only wasting another week being up here.”
A strange comment and a little disrespectful to a team that just played their socks off and beat his in every facet of the game.
The Raiders need to take a good hard look in the mirror and – that’s not necessarily directed at the players.
After all, a fish rots from the head down.
Jason
Guest
Not really mate. Arthur has only made 3 semis and a wooden spoon. At least Raiders made the GF.
ppa19696837
Roar Rookie
The quote casts dispersions on his own ability as a coach! The guy is petulant, always has been. Not sure where the future lies for Ricky, but I think his time Is up at the Raiders.
Patrick Brennan
Roar Rookie
Can I add the loss of Jarrod Croker the Raiders co-captain and incredibly consistent point scorer to the reasons why the Raiders had a poor season. He has proven himself to be an enthusiastic leader, a classy centre and a fine man off the field. The team missed his sweeping runs, terrific setting up of outside players and his relentless goal kicking.
Paul Logan
Guest
Jack signed some footy cards and a jersey for us earlier this year. The guy is an absolute legend. Footy player that doesn’t need the other stuff going on. We aren’t Raiders supporters, but from his hometown.
Steve
Guest
There have been internal drama's at the Raiders stretching back to the middle of last year when John Bateman decided to cut his stay short. I can't remember all of them but there have been a few this year as well culminating in Williams being show the door. It's interesting to note that despite all the evidence journalists (and I use that term for want of a more appropriate description) like Paul Kent have been desperately trying to protect their mate Ricky from any fallout. Any time anything like this was brought up on NRL 360 Kent would go on the attack. He all but called George Williams a liar and jumps in to absolve Ricky (who he has admitted to being life long mates with) of any responsibility for the internal issues. You are dead right. Where there is smoke there's fire. Blind Freddy could see there have been issues for quite a while yet the media have given them a free pass and swept all the nasty stuff under the carpet. I'd hate to think what Kent and his ilk would have been like if this kind of stuff was happening at the Bulldogs or South's. There would have been headlines every day questioning the coaches ability. Unfortunately you can't keep this stuff secret forever no matter how many mates you have in the media. Eventually it will show on the field, which is what we saw on the weekend. Playing for a finals spot against a reserve grade Roosters outfit flogged by 50 points 7 days earlier and they turn in their worst performance for 6 years?! If I'm the coach of that side I would be so embarrassed I'd resign. Maybe its about time the media asked the question "Is Ricky Stuart the right man for the job?"
Ed Gein
Roar Rookie
100% Agreed. Wighton had his worst (and one of the worst seasons ever) for such a high profile and high priced player coming off an all-time season. Worse still, NSW still somehow managed to select him for Origin and then even more extraordinary, selected him to start at five-eighth in game three - dumbest move of the year bar none. Brandy's defence of this stupidity on NRL 360, when pressed by Paul Kent, is just laughable! Wighton needs an organising halfback so he doesn't have to think (it's clearly not his strong suit on or off the field). Catch and run hard should be his mantra at all times.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Whenever a team has off field issues, I stop backing them. Raiders were riddled with off field issues in the preseason and during the season. Knights same. Titans same. Broncos same. Very rare to read about the Storm and off field issues or board problems.
TJ
Guest
I’m still not convinced Wighton’s best spot is 5/8. He’s a strong ball runner but I don’t think his playmaking and footy IQ are anywhere near what’s required as a half. I’d love to see how he goes playing lock or as an edge back rower.
Randy
Roar Rookie
Wighton needs a good halfback next to him, he's not a natural playmaker and relies so much on brute strength and athleticism. Unfortunately he is not Daley and never will be. Daley started his career as a ball runner and developed into an elite ball player probably in the mid 90s but he always showed he had very high footy IQ. Always knew when to pass, when to run and when to kick. Jack's decision making and ability to read the defence is nowhere near that level.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
Good article, Horrible way to finish the season. Covid has definitely helped the Raiders this year. No more Pom recruits for a while. Just need to invest in Juniors and some decent leaders to inspire the group. Could've been a different game with Kris, Savage and Croker playing. Once they get a decent Halfback the Raiders will make top status.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
If he has pulled up his career average by more than 10% since taking the job, that suggests he has done well at it.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Really felt sorry for young Valemei - as I've said elsewhere he had a lot of circumstances that contributed to his mistakes - I think there was only one where he spilt a bomb where he was truly culpable. As Harry says he did well to get a fingertip to one cross field kick, got smashed from behind when he wasn't expecting it and given an awful pass from Hudson Young that landed near his feet. Hope he puts all that behind him and has a decent pre season and season next year.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Plus CNK being out for about 90% of the season set them back. Losing your half back and full back was a huge challenge. The blokes who filled in at full back did a pretty decent job - Simmonsson, Savage and Rapana to name a few. But Sam Williams and Matt Frawley are fill in halves rather than first choice halves. They had a handful of good games but a lot where they went missing. I'm sure that killed a lot of their chances in games in the middle and second half of the year.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Exactly - and the quote is taken out of context - Ricky added "all respect to the Roosters" but given the number of players out they should have beaten them - and he was right
Willie La'ulu
Roar Guru
Yeah for sure, losing a halfback mid season would never be ideal, with no real set back up option, aswelll. Huge blow
Walter Black
Guest
whilst I am not one of those that predicted they got to the GF or even got into the top 4, I did think they would do better than what they have done. I think losing George Williams was a massive blow to them and one possibly of their own making ? Either way, most fans will be disappointed with the outcome
Nat
Roar Guru
Yeah, I'm not rubbishing him. That game has happened to the best of them. It's just unfortunate that is the way he finishes the season. I really like the look of the Raiders next gen but gee you guys need a half back.
Harry
Guest
Paul, if you eavesdropped on the chat among Raiders fans you'd have been hearing plenty of grumbling about Ricky Stuart and his coaching all year long. The media might be a different story but I don't pay much attention to mainstream rugby league media because, I mean, just look it. As for making the finals, it's not just about whether they've made the 8 but how far they've got: after two decades of mediocrity Stuart's got the Raiders to two preliminary finals and a grand final and, until this season, has got the Raiders to a place where fans had been confident of their ability to go toe-to-toe with the competition's benchmark teams. This season's done a lot of damage to his reputation but when you look at the state of the club for so long before his arrival, his record Raiders coach deserves some level of respect. But equally, he needs to wear a lot of the blame for this season.
Full Credit to the Boys
Roar Rookie
Covid has destroyed my livelihood but there is at least one silver lining. Ricky Stuart has to wear a mask which means I don’t have to watch his stressed out jaw pulverising some poor piece of chewing gum. You can still tell he is still chewing like Hannibal Lector on speed beneath the mask, but it now looks pathetic rather than insane. Imagine being coached by that level of anxiety all season.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Whenever a team is failing to live up to expectations, the coach is generally the one the media point the finger at as with the Tigers, Cronulla before Morris lost his job, McGregor when at Saints to name a few but no mention of Ricky Stuart. He has a career success rate of 50%, at one stage 39% when he left Parramatta. Could it be the coach?