Jack Wighton’s “itchy feet” means he may never shut the door on a return to the NSW side with the Canberra five-eighth admitting it’s been difficult watching his former teammates struggle through this year’s State of Origin series.
But the Raiders champion, who announced his retirement from representative football earlier this year, insists his immediate focus is delivering the Canberrans a season to remember before shifting to South Sydney next year.
The 30-year-old looked at his powerful best in leading the Raiders to a 20-18 win over the Roosters on Sunday, making a season-high 12 runs and scoring an impressive leaping try as they moved to sixth on the table.
“My halfback was actually listening to me,” Wighton said with a laugh.
“It was probably just fresh legs after a bye and just taking my opportunities a little bit more … I was just having fun.
“I’ve got a few games to go and I’m not getting ahead of myself. We’ve just gotta keep digging in and putting our best foot forward.”
But Wighton and his teammates know they must tighten up defensively to be a factor deep into the season, conceding three straight tries to nearly cough up an 18-0 lead.
Adding to their 41, 28 and 22-point home losses this season, their defensive lapses have left them with a woeful -69 point differential, the only team inside the top eight with a negative mark.
“That’s probably our undoing this year, leaking a few too many points,” Wighton said.
“We’ve had teams to the sword and we end up giving our fans a heart attack, and ourselves.
“Just letting in a couple of tries that shouldn’t be tries … it’s something we’re working hard on to shut down those tries that bring pressure and wreck our for and against.”
The Dally M and Clive Churchill medallist said he didn’t enjoy watching his former NSW teammates slump to a 2-0 Origin series deficit, and while he won’t answer an SOS call this year the door appears more than ajar moving forward.
“It’s been difficult just because you still have all the emotions and I believe that lasts forever,” Wighton said.
“It’s one of them games, such an arena and such a build up and you see the passion.
“I’ve always got itchy feet mate, no matter what it is.”
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
