Canberra are right to be angry and no coach in the NRL fits that mould more so than Ricky Stuart but Jack Wighton’s switch to South Sydney is in large part the club’s own doing.
The Raiders have not put themselves in a position to consistently contend for the premiership and Wighton wants a Grand Final victory before he retires.
At 30, he sees a better chance of fulfilling that goal at a team like the Rabbitohs than by staying with the Green Machine.
In an age when sportspeople are roundly criticised for following the dollars, Wighton should be commended for his decision to accept less at Souths than the riches he could have raked in by staying in the national capital or taking a punt on the Dolphins.
Jack Wighton. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Unfortunately the scourge of trolling on social media has reared its insidiously ugly head again and Wighton has called them out. The person who sent this to Wighton should be ashamed of themselves and they deserve to cop the full weight of the law.
The Raiders have lodged a complaint with the salary cap auditor about Wighton’s deal with Souths not being up to market value and Stuart issued a statement on Wednesday putting the heat on the NRL over its controversial contract system.
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As the CBA stalemate gets set to go six months past its deadline, the previous system where players can sign elsewhere up to 12 months out from the end of their contract is still in operation.
“As a club, we believe the current contracting system where players can sign well out from the end of their current contract is flawed,” Stuart opined in the statement. “It is not fair to you who I see as our major stakeholders, the club, and as importantly the players.”
This is true but not really the point in this instance. The statement seems more like a diversionary tactic.
And there was little protest from Canberra in 2016 when they signed Joseph Tapine from Newcastle early in the final season of his deal and the young forward was agitating for a release to get to the Raiders.
It’s a poor look for a professional sports league to have a high-profile star like Wighton committing to another club when not even a third of the current season has been completed.
However, Raiders fans need to ask themselves why Wighton didn’t want to stick around.
How did this team that was so perilously close to winning the premiership in 2019 go backwards so quickly the past three years?
They were contenders again the following year when none other than Wighton put in his best season to claim the Dally M Medal, finishing fifth on the ladder and bowing out in the preliminary final stage to eventual premiers Melbourne. No shame in that.
But in the past two years they have pretty much been making up the numbers without ever threatening the top teams – they were 10th in 2021 and eighth last year before upsetting the Storm in the first round of the playoffs before copping a 40-4 hiding from Parramatta.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart with Jack Wighton. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
They are again on track for mid-table irrelevance with a 3-4 record heading into Saturday’s stoush with the Dolphins at Wagga Wagga.
Canberra have paid the price for overpaying veterans or signing them a year or two too long and have never been able to replace John Bateman’s X-factor presence in the forward pack.
They’ve had bad luck along the way, particularly Bateman and halfback George Williams, turning their back on the club despite the Raiders doing everything they could to keep the English internationals happy while Josh Hodgson’s ongoing injury dramas robbed them of a creative spark out of dummy-half.
And the continued loyalty to Stuart is the lime green elephant in the room at Raiders HQ.
He’s embarking on his 10th season at the helm and has a contract for another two seasons after the club extended his deal last year.
In five of his nine seasons the club has had a losing record and finished 10th or worse.
As he said in his statement on Wednesday, he “bleeds green” as much as the most loyal Raiders fan and as one of the greatest players to lace up a boot for Canberra during their three-premiership golden era from 1989-94, he deserves eternal respect at the club.
But if he wasn’t a club legend as a player, would Raiders officials have been so patient and quick to offer him the contract extensions that have been thrown his way since he returned home in 2014?
A dispassionate analysis of his record suggests it’s something of an anomaly that someone with these results is the third-longest tenured coach at an NRL club behind Trent Robinson (who joined the Roosters a year earlier and has won three titles) and Craig Bellamy, who has been successful for 20 years at the Storm and looks like he will shelve any retirement plans for at least another season.
“I want to reassure you all that the club did everything possible to keep Jack at the Raiders and we wanted nothing more than to see him reach 300 games and become a one-club player,” Stuart said.
“I want to let our loyal members and fans know that I bleed green as much as you do, and as much as it hurts today, our future is still ahead of us, and we will continue on the path we best see fit to give this club the success it deserves.”
Stuart did go on to say the Raiders would “continue to invest in our successful development and pathways systems”, which is exactly what Canberra need to do.
The inevitable rebuild that was coming anyway has now been accelerated by Wighton’s earlier-than-expected departure.
They can’t afford to keep using up sizeable chunks of their salary cap on the likes of Jarrod Croker, Jordan Rapana, Josh Papalii and Elliott Whitehead, who have been great for the club but are not the players they once were.
Xavier Savage. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
The likes of young fullback Xavier Savage, prop Corey Horsburgh, second-rower Hudson Young and centre Matt Timoko are the building blocks for the future.
Canberra drove themselves nuts a decade-plus ago when they continually missed out on high-profile recruits or the ones they signed didn’t stick around very long, such as Blake Ferguson and Junior Paulo.
And they made the tough calls to send locally produced troublemakers packing like Todd Carney and Josh Dugan only to see them succeed at other clubs.
The change in mindset for what became the team that made the 2019 decider was to invest in players who didn’t care for the bright lights of big cities like Sydney and Brisbane.
Blue-collar workers from country areas like Croker, Wighton and Tapine, mixed in with Kiwi hard nuts like Rapana and Sia Soliola, and British imports who didn’t see Canberra’s climate as a turn-off when you come from the north of England.
Unfortunately for Raiders fans hoping lightning will strike twice, the chances of the current side doing anything close to the 2019 team are pretty remote.
The club will have plenty of cash to spend next season but overpaying for imports is unlikely to do much apart from paper over the cracks.
It’s time to hit the reset button in the national capital rather than look for a quick fix and the club needs to ask whether Stuart is the right coach to lead them long term.
Taree Raider
Roar Rookie
Ricky is the problem, for one of the best half backs in his era Ricky doesn't appear to be able to coach a half or 5/8. The Raiders need a Adam Reynolds, Nathan Cleary. That's all that's missing. A game controlling halfback who can kick well, drop kick when needed, get repeat sets & kick accurate bombs. Ricky was the last Raiders halfback that could do that. I can see that Trindall from Cronulla has those attributes. I believe that is family are from Narrabri, so he's a country bloke who should thrive in the ACT..... I know that he just re-sighned with the Sharks for another couple of years, but what does that mean. Ricky has had his time, how about let our able assistant have another go. Mr Michael McGuire? He has a similar history to Ricky, coached a grand final side & shortly thereafter was shafted. While ever Ricky is at the Raiders playing favourites, not reacting to what is really happening. Not accepting blame, the Raiders are shot. A new voice is what's needed. I'm really happy with the squad we have minus Jack with the game controlling halfback added.
steveng
Roar Rookie
To tell you the truth Geoff, I’ve never been a fan of Jack Wighton anytime in his career, I’ve had a soft spot for the Raiders as my son lives in Canberra and he’s a big fan, and if you read what I’ve said its exactly what you are saying. One hope is that Gagai came to Souths, and he panned out pretty well. I fully agree with you as that is why I said “he better pull his socks up” as we won’t cop what he got away with at the Raiders and JD won’t either, as Souths don’t depend on Jack like the Raiders made him out to be.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Could it be that JW is the best option at 6 for Canberra, and maybe they don’t have another half coming through their system at this time. Canberra clearly decided what JW is worth to Canberra. Maybe, just maybe he doesn’t want the attention or pressure of being The Marquee Player and is happy to accept “only $800,000” per season just to play footy and let the other “stars” do all the heavy lifting with the media and expectations. Almost like going into semi retirement to just enjoy playing footy.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
I heard two Canberra players interviewed on ABC prior to start of season 2023, i think it was during the pre-season trials period. They were talking up 2023 as a premiership opportunity for the Raiders and talking up how much footy IQ Jack had learned and brought back to the club from his 2022 world cup experience, and that he was sharing this with them all. Then Canberra is 5 weeks into the season 2023 with only one win and Penrith running in more than 50 points against them. At that point the penny must have dropped that a premiership is not on the horizon for Canberra. They could well have won over Easts in… 2019? Just needed Leilua to pass the ball to Rapana and it’s a different result for Canberra, for Stuart’s coaching legacy and for Jack. There can be a fine line between first and second place. You don’t get enough credit for running close second.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
If Jack is one thing consistently its competitive.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
South Sydney owners Russell Crowe, James Packer and billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes were all born and bred in Redfern weren't they? A trio of real grass roots battlers.
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Great article Paul, it appears some quarters are laying into both the NRL and Souths yet the Raiders get little scrutiny. Could it be that Wighton has had a falling out with Stuart or just had enough of his coaching methods after 10 years. There could be a myriad of reasons but the court of public opinion seems to be blaming the NRL or Souths when it might be prudent to have a look in the Raiders backyard. If I’m the Raiders I would be going hard after Bellamy if he calls it quits with the Storm. He could name his price and a return back home to finish his career where it all started would be some story.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
So Jack will have to really pull his socks up if he wants to be worthy of playing for the Rabbitohs will he steve? Some of you Souths supporters need to get a grip. He's gone to Souths to be with cuz Latrell and some other Indigenous mates for less money - presumably for a change of scenery and the hope of getting a premiership. But don't kid yourself that you are getting the complete article. He can be rocks and diamonds which you are just about to find out. He's currently sitting 8th for most errors in the NRL this season and he's only played 5 games. And he's been in the top 10 or 20 players in the NRL for most errors in a season for the past five years.
Diggerbill
Roar Rookie
If you listen to the Sydney commentators, the Raiders are a one man side who would be fodder if not for Wighton. In the last 2 and a bit seasons however they have: Played 47 games with Wighton for 20 wins at a strike rate of 42.5%, Played 10 games without him for 8 wins (80% S/R), including 5/5 last year. Anyone who watches the Raiders regularly knows how error riddled his game is, he surely holds the record for the most "out on the full"s, ever. He is a terrific centre who we've desperately tried to turn into a playmaker, but it hasn't worked. Good luck to Jack, he deserves the club's respect, but I think Raiders have cause for optimism with some much needed cash freed up.
mushi
Roar Guru
Agree, I think it's probably a plus for you guys. He will put everything out there if he's a remotely competitive guy
Antho
Roar Rookie
steveng I think you’re missing my point mate. The system is massively flawed when payments made outside a ‘salary cap’ is the reason a deal is ‘salary cap compliant’ literally makes no sense. TPA’s is a system which benefits some teams and not others - which inherently makes it unfair. Not South’s or any other clubs fault for that matter - the system is broken.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Since his move into the centres Val has become close to the most valuable player in the game. I reckon he's a beauty, not even my team!
Tetley
Roar Rookie
On my mark, unleash the brown paper bags.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Cadfael
Roar Guru
That was why Kenny Irvine left Norths for Manly. He wanted a premiership before he retired and he did that. Some he couldn't have done with Norths and I'm an old Norths fan. Irvine's best chnace was in 1965.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Abolish third party payments. They will work for some clubs and not others;.
Redcap
Roar Guru
:laughing: Come to think of it, Cannon-Brookes is big into renewables, so we could go for the 'Salary Continuum'.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yes, its in Redfern just like its in Qld dave :laughing:
steveng
Roar Rookie
These comments are a bit rich comparing us to the Chooks and Storm, our only known stars that we have signed up in the last 12 years were GI in 2011 and the Burgess boys, and the only one that was a known commodity was SamyB and had some sort of a reputation, after playing in his first international game and selling a huge dummy and scoring a try against... I can't remember if it was the Kangaroos or the Kiwis and after that he joined Souths, as his brothers George and Tom were unknown and were developed at the Bunnies, especially Tom as he lasted the longest, the Burgess boys were the only poms Michell was our biggest signing since SamyB in 2010 and GI in 2011 and you are all going troppo over Jako??? WOW :laughing:
Dutski
Roar Guru
The Medical Retirement Fund?