Canberra Raiders skipper Elliott Whitehead insists his club can still win an NRL premiership, despite star half Jack Wighton leaving in search of an elusive flag.
The first Raiders player to speak publicly since Wighton this week signed a four-year deal with South Sydney to begin from next season, Whitehead said he respected his teammate’s decision and fully expected the five-eighth to continue to deliver in the back half of 2023.
Wighton, who has won a World Cup and State of Origin series to go with his Dally M and Clive Churchill medals, took a significantly smaller pay packet to head to the Rabbitohs and join a side that has made five successive preliminary finals.
But Whitehead disagreed his current teammate was giving himself a better chance of completing his trophy cabinet by moving clubs, insisting the Raiders have the troops to deliver.
“That’s his opinion,” Whitehead said.
“We’ve got a good enough squad here to win the premiership this year and I feel like we’ll have the squad next year to win it.
“Jacko is a big loss. I respect his decision, it’s a personal one and he thought he needed a change.”
Wighton was disappointed news of his move broke before he had the chance to tell his teammates, Raiders second-rower Hudson Young said.
“That’s the type of bloke Jack is, he’d never shy away from anything like that,” he said.
“He wanted to tell Stick (coach Ricky Stuart) first, (but) once he told Ricky the media had hold of it before any (players) could find out.
“I’m sure there’ll be times where we chat about it but it was his decision for him and his family … he wanted the change, so that’s the path he’s taken.
“But the show will go on. He’s a great mate of mine, I love playing next to him.”
Wighton was subject to racial abuse following the announcement of his move, and shared screenshots of messages he had received on Instagram.
Whitehead described the abuse as “well out of order”, saying he doubted the perpetrators would have the courage to make the comments to Wighton in person.
“Hopefully the police can get to the bottom of it with the person that sent the comments and not just accept an apology, actually make a statement and give him some kind of punishment” the Canberra skipper said.
“There’s a lot of abuse on social media and a lot of people like to get on their keyboards and type away, I’m not sure how many would say that to his face.
“You don’t want that in the world or in the game … he’s very competitive and a winner at heart.
“He’s been at this club for so long and done so much for this club.
“To see some fans turn against him because of his decision is a bit sad really, but I’m sure he’s going to give it his all for the rest of the season.”
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
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