When you’ve got both a Clive Churchill and Dally M Medal in your pool room, it’s difficult for anyone to argue that you’re not one of the best players in the game.
But in 2021, Jack Wighton – who had secured the game’s two highest individual honours in the previous two seasons – led the Canberra Raiders to an inauspicious tenth-place finish, following up his 26-point 2020 Dally M winning season with few enough points in 2021 that he didn’t feature on the end-of-season list that stopped at Jason Taumalolo on six.
It was the kind of year that not only suggests you’re not a great player, it can end a career.
But that’s not how Ricky Stuart works. The most volatile coach in the National Rugby League is also the most loyal, saying it was everyone else’s fault Wighton was having a low-key 2021.
“We’ve been very inconsistent all season and it makes it very hard for Jack,” Stuart said last August.
“We’re all very happy to put Jack on our shoulders when he’s taking the game on and winning the game, it’s now our turn to load up for Jack to play well and to help him.
“We’ve got to go out there and play well for him now and just let him fall into our show of good form.”
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
While Stuart’s words received a mixed response, they weren’t unreasonable.
Wighton is a confidence player. When the rest of his team are on and giving him the time and space he needs, he can tear an opposition apart.
The other way to see it is that Wighton is the Green Machine’s main man and when things aren’t going according to plan, the incumbent award holder as best player in the entire comp really should step up and ensure that his team is at least in the contest.
Look, maybe it was just the bad year Wighton was arguably due to have.
I’m never going to be as torn up about it as my brilliant colleague Tim Gore, but Wighton’s 2019 Clive Churchill medal should have been on the back of he and his team also winning the grand final. The Raiders were definitely better on the night, it’s just that the Roosters – as an entire club, right down to the trainers – knew when to turn it on.
Wighton was massive in their efforts to get there, then was the best player on the park the day that mattered most.
The almost-was 2019 at Bruce Stadium was followed with a fifth-place finish in 2020 – the year Wighton won the game’s award for best, most consistent individual player – and we wondered how close the men from the nation’s capital were to a drought-busting grand final win.
But in 2021 the Raiders had a bad year and, as a result, so did Jack. Or maybe it was because of Jack.
Anyway, bad years tend to go one of two ways: either it’s written off as 12 building months that everyone learns from and makes the club better for the experience, or it’s the beginning of the end for said club’s premiership window.
For the Green Machine?
Well, Sia Soliola, Dunamis Lui, Ryan James, Siliva Havili and Curtis Scott are all known quantities who won’t be there this year, while there remains uncertainty over the long-term health of club captain Jarrod Croker.
Jarrod Crocker (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)
And, of course, there’s the ongoing Pommy hostility, with Wighton’s halves partner, George Williams, getting his marching orders halfway through last year and the fella who started the Raiders’ Red Rose revolution, Josh Hodgson, now off to the Eels in 2023 and possibly keen for a cameo somewhere else for the upcoming season.
There are a lot of question marks, is the takeaway. And teams with question marks over them don’t tend to win premierships.
The Raiders’ 2019 effort was one for the romantics. Because it was a team that probably had no business being there on the last day of the season, but September footy is a different comp and if you’re ready to go at that point, you can write a story that makes the tragics weep.
And the tears flowed, but for all the wrong reasons, as Travis Touma became even more discussed than the bloke who wore the Little Master’s medal at the end of the night.
Jack Wighton of the Raiders (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
A fifth-place finish the following year, then tenth in 2021 suggests that rather than the start of a dynasty, ‘19 was the Raiders’ unexpected shot and unfortunate zenith.
If it was – is – going to be more than an unfulfilled fairy tale, if the Green Machine are going to beat the winning machines that come out of Melbourne, Bondi and, now, Penrith, they need someone to step up and be next-level awesome.
And they’ve got that guy. His name is Jack Wighton.
So, Jack. Whatcha gonna do about it?
Million Dollar Man series
A look at each club’s million-dollar man – the player broadly acknowledged to be taking up the largest individual chunk of the salary cap (even if they aren’t actually quite grossing seven figures).
» Can Tevita Pangai Jr finally put it all together at the Bulldogs?
» An off year or the beginning of the end for Jason Taumalolo?
» Scorned by Souths, it’s Reynolds to the rescue in Brisbane
» How much blame does Luke Brooks deserve for the Wests Tigers’ finals drought?
» Addin Fonua-Blake took the green but can he stop seeing red?
» Ben Hunt and how a single moment can define an entire career
Best-case scenario
This is the first club of this series where I can actually say this with any sense of legitimacy, even if it’s not likely.
The best-case scenario for the Canberra Raiders is winning the comp.
They’ve got the level of depth in both forwards and backs that mean dudes like Corey Horsburgh and Harley Smith-Shields played fewer than a dozen games last season, and their coach is in the minority of active coaches to have actually own a premiership (I have a whole thing about how Ricky Stuart is just an angrier version of Michael Hagan and therefore made a longer career of it, but whatever, Stuart’s still got a driver’s seat).
When you’ve got those ingredients, the only other thing you need is one transcendental talent in the halves and another guy who can put the ball into touch when it’s necessary and make his tackles.
Raiders fans, you’ve got everything there. It’s ready to go.
Top four ain’t as good as it gets. Winning the comp is.
And if Canberra finally put things right after the heartache of 2019, it will almost certainly be on the back of another exceptional season from Jack Wighton.
Worst-case scenario
If it’s all there, why the hell were Canberra such a shambles last year?
Losing fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was obviously a blow but between Williams’ departure, Hodgson’s dissatisfaction and Joe Tapine’s wife, Kirsten, blasting Stuart on Instagram, it sure does seem like – to the outside observer – managing people is a weakness at the organisation.
Wighton is a guy who needs more of a cuddle than a kick and Ricky cuddled him through last year. But if the Raiders are struggling by June this year, I just can’t see Stuart continuing to back his highest-paid player at the expense of the rest of his team.
And if the Raiders are struggling by June this year, I also can’t see it being despite Wighton playing great footy and the rest of the team letting him down.
A failure to make the eight would constitute a bad year in the ACT but – in much the same way as a grand final is the best-case scenario (even if it’s not overly likely) – the worst-case scenario is the wooden spoon.
Stranger things have happened at a club where crucial people aren’t settled.
If that’s the case, you’d also have to wonder whether Jack Wighton will see out his career at the Green Machine or enact the option in his favour to make a move to even greener pastures ahead of the 2023 season.
Of course, if he has another stinker, what club would offer him the reported $800,000 Canberra are committed to paying him for each of seasons ’23 and ’24?
matth
Roar Guru
I think the biggest problem for the Raiders last year was the form of Papalii. If he is heading to the downhill portion of his career, that's a real issue for the Raiders.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
When the Dogs signed Cotric I said at the time I thought they had bought a player who had peaked and was well down on his early years. I still think that's the case but will keep an eye on him.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Yes , the same team which almost won a couple of years back could have challenged for the crown under the new rules as well.
mushi
Roar Guru
I'm okay with the ccm he seemed the most consistently dangerous player that game.
mushi
Roar Guru
I think Freddy is worried about the potential hero to zero guys. The perception of Walker fits that mould.
mushi
Roar Guru
Raiders issues were mainly health related (mental and physical) Their first choice spine had one guy knocked out, one checked out and one worried he was going to be left out.
mushi
Roar Guru
"Can he win a comp" Really that question has nothing to do with Jack. If you've been the best player in a grand final clearly you have the capability (as 17 guys who presumably played worse did it)
William W
Roar Rookie
He already had his chance to win a comp, he choked when the game was on the line!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yes I was surprised that Jack got the nod for 5/8 over Cody Walker - well I probably wasn't surprised as Freddy Fittler is a massive fan of his - but I thought the Souths Walker/Reynolds combination should have been the obvious choice for the NSW halves on form. I would have kept Jack as a utility off the bench. Freddy loves Jack's enthusiasm but his form didn't warrant a starting spot - the NSW selectors certainly missed a trick there.
Rob
Guest
I'm still not sure he deserved the Dally M or CCM and I'm still not convinced his best position is 5/8. There's going to be a lot of pressure on him heading into this year so it'll be interesting to see how he handles it. He's got a very good pack to play behind and a very solid spine. If he doesn't perform well this year, I don't think it's ever going to happen for him in the halves.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
NSW selectors can't win. When they stick with an out of form player like the QLD team does (apparently) they get bagged if it doesn't work, but if the shaft him which the QLD team don't do, (apparently) they get bagged for ''not getting Origin ''. The NSW selectors had no idea when they selected Turbo in the centres a few years back they said. ''Why do they continue to pick players out of position?'' I'll be happy if Turbo isn't selected on that basis but I won't be holding my breathe.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
V'ball was blamed for Manly's start to season 21 due to a roster that was apparently unsuitable. It was just nonsense. V'ball wasn't close to being the Raiders biggest problem last season.
steve
Guest
I'm still trying to work out how he got picked at 5/8 over Cody Walker in SOO game 3 last year. Worst selection blunder for NSW in recent memory. He is obviously a favourite of the selectors for some reason...can't imagine why.
Randy
Roar Rookie
He needs his half and hooker to organise and take on some of the ball playing. I don't think Jack is a great ball player to be honest. Brilliant running game and very good defensively, although even that part of his game was shaky last season. His kicking game is still very inconsistent and relies a lot on brute strength.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Ricky has always struggled to adapt to the changing paradigms in the game. He gets there eventually, just a season or two late.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Wighton is the poster child for the saying "rocks and diamonds". It can be the 20th minute of a game and he won't have done anything other than push a pass or two along the backline. He will run on the last tackle and when it is clear the option should be kick, he will throw a pass over the sideline or dribble it along the ground in desperation as he goes to ground, then get up looking puzzled. But that said, against a retreating backline his powerful running is very very good and he does have a big boot on him - though maybe not with the pin point accuracy of a Cleary, Moses or Reynolds. He doesn't strike me as a smart player, or at least not a player who can make smart decisions quickly. So to that end, the halves doesn't really suit him. But he probably doesn't have the work rate to move to lock and isn't agile/fast enough to be a centre - so you end up putting him at 5/8, where he can be very good... sometimes...
Paul
Roar Guru
Canberra's game plan, when they're going well, is based on a few simple things; solid defence, good metres from their forwards in attack which paves the way for Wighton and the rest of the spine to do their stuff. Lat season they didn't get any of this right often enough to challenge for a finals spot and all the people management issues (and injuries) mentioned in this piece must have mentally killed them. Hopefully Stuart and the players have hit the reset button and they're mentally in a good place. If they have there's no doubt they have the talent to make the finals.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Like a lot of supporters I wait with anticipation to see what version of the Raiders we see this season. Quite a bit of turnover in the off season with the loss of Soliola, Lui, James, Havili, Simmonson and Scott. Solid contributors but some of them were near the end of their careers. I think the recruitment of Fogarty will prove to be a very good signing along with Adam Elliot - and Nick Cotric is a much better player than both Simonsson and Scott. Fogarty could be the solid half the Raiders need to allow Jack Wighton to flourish. Hopefully Cory Horsburgh has an injury free year as he has hardly played in the past two seasons and having CNK back is a massive plus. Joe Tapine and Josh Papalii will form a formidable forward pairing. I just hope Ricky starts both of them and gives them long minutes. Tapine was exceptional for the Maori last weekend. The big question mark is who among the young backs stand up and perform and whether Jarrod Croker can return to his form of 2019. CNK, Rapana and Cotric are certainties and we have seen glimpses of what Savage, Kris and Timoko can offer. Feel for HSS as I think this was going to be a break out year for him on the wing or in the centres. It was only two years ago when the Raiders were regarded as a top 4 contender but people have jumped off them after the ordinary season they put in last year with plenty of off field distractions. Hopefully that is all behind them now. Of those outside the 8 last season I can see the Sharks, Raiders and Bulldogs being the big improvers. Of those within the 8 I can see the Knights, Eels and Rabbitohs with a few question marks over them with the departure of critical players. The Titans will be relying an an exciting but very inexperienced spine and Manly's fortunes appears to rely on the strength of Tommy Turbo's hamstrings.
Harry
Guest
The main problem the Raiders have had since 2019 is that that season was built on the back of desperate, gritty defence and a style of play that took pleasure in grinding out a win. This was a massive change from Raiders teams of recent years - even just the Raiders of 2018 - and was the result of a multi-year rebuild from coach Stuart. It was exactly the style the Raiders needed to play at the time but then Vlandysball came along and suddenly power forwards and grinding wins were out of favour in the NRL (at least until September 2021). The Raiders did well to get as far as they did in 2020 (and with them on the rise and the Eels on the fall if it had been a full-length season they likely would have finished in the top 4) but last season showed that the team just weren't equipped to play the new style. With a change in conditioning and attacking coaches in the off-season and the arrival of the first genuine halfback the club have signed since Stuart arrived as coach hopefully things will go better this season, though a pre-season ACL injury to Harley Smith-Shields is a devastating way to start the new year - he's looked like a natural first-grader in the games he's played so far. In the meantime Raiders fans are left to play "what if" - not about the 2019 grand final, but "What if the all-out attacking team of 2016 led by Blake Austin, which lost to Melbourne in Melbourne by only two points in a preliminary final, had been playing in the V'Landys era?"
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Wighton is a quality player no doubt but he has suffered from playing without a really solid game manager at the Raiders. Sezer was a good half but not quite strong enough to be an effective foil for Jack . I thought Williams was a major step in the right direction but unfortunately he wanted out. It will be interesting to see how he works with Fogarty who like Wighton had similar issues at the Titans. If they compliment their respective talents, the Raiders could be in for a great year