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'After the games it’d be Raiders and Rabbitohs': Tom Burgess on lockdown sessions that might bring Wighton to Souths

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21st April, 2023
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It’s easy to picture the scene: isolated away from their families and lives on the Sunshine Coast back in 2021, the South Sydney boys and the Canberra boys end up bonding in the hotel bar after a few tough hitouts on the run-in to the finals.

Now, 18 months on, it might be the bonds formed then that lead to the Bunnies poaching the Raiders’ star man in spectacular fashion, with Souths now the frontrunners to capture Jack Wighton’s signature in 2024.

According to Tom Burgess, the bonds formed in their Sunny Coast getaway might be part of the wave that brings Wighton to Redfern.

“We were in lockdown,” he said. “We hung out with the Raiders boys quite a lot because we were in the same hotel and we weren’t playing against them again. After the games it’d be the Raiders and the Rabbitohs. 

“We’ve got that link to with boys that know Jacko. He’s a great lad and everyone speaks highly of it. I think he’s great and would suit our club. He’s a big family man. I was actually surprised he was younger than me. He’s played a lot of games for his age.”

Souths and Canberra have had plenty in common: both have long had the largest English contingents in the league, as well as multiple Indigenous players who link up through the All Star setup, notably Wighton and Latrell Mitchell.

“I know Jack,” said Burgess. I know him through Elliott Whitehead.

Jack Wighton. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

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“I’m good friends with him and they’re good mates. Quite a few English lads have played in Canberra and they all say good things about him, as do the boys here that have played with him. He’d be a massive addition to any team.”

Burgess was speaking after Souths’ statement win over Penrith, where Mitchell stamped his authority on the game with two tries and several sparkling moments.

The Bunnies now go back to Queensland to face their old leader, Adam Reynolds, and a resurgent Broncos team lead by Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan next week before stopping on to play Melbourne at Magic Round.

“He’ll be a big player when he grows up, won’t he?” joked Burgess about Latrell.

“We’re all still building our game and we’re not the team that we’re going to be in Round 26, so we’re looking to improve. We’re away for a couple of weeks now with Brisbane two weeks in a row so it’s a big little matchup for us.

“I missed both games last year so I missed playing against my old mate (Reynolds), I’ve not played against him yet since he moved. It’ll be a good contest, they’ve coming out firing and are playing some good footy. It’ll be good to see how we go against him.

“I’m looking forward to coming up against him (Haas). He’s carrying the ball strongly and he’s dangerous with his metres after contact and he’s got the highest number of offloads in the league. I’ll have to lock that up.

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“They’re playing well together, him and Carrigan, and really laying a platform. Herbie Farnworth is playing well too, a good English bloke.”

Burgess might be forced into another interchange role, where he featured against the Panthers as a surprise impact sub. He made a mark in his more limited minutes, but admitted he struggled to find the pace of the game early on.

“I had a bit of a different role in coming off the bench, but I didn’t mind it,” he said.

“It worked out for the team. I was blowing a little bit today. It was a different feel coming off the bench and caught me off guard a little bit. It was a fast paced game too.

“I’ve got to get my prep right going into the game – I might have done too much on the bench. “

The tactic itself was something of a masterstroke, allowing Souths to compete over a longer period. A large part of that was the performance of Hame Sele, who put in one of his best showings in a Bunnies jersey.

“He’s a great player who’s had unlucky times with injuries,” said Burgess.

“If he can string together few games he’s going to keep going and building that momentum. He’s strong, fit, can chop people in half and he’s got good hands too. It’d be a great addition if we can keep him on the field.

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“It (the sub role) was talked about through the week to bring me off the bench as a tactical thing. I’ve been starting a few games but to be honest, I don’t mind. Whatever happens, as long as I’ve doing my job for the team and getting us going forward, that’s my role and hopefully I did that tonight.

“Penrith are up there. They’re the league leaders if you’re talking about game smarts. I was blowing and JD realised that and got me off and brought me back on again as another impact. It worked out alright and I don’t mind getting a little rest time.”

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