South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou says he would love to add Jack Wighton to his star-studded Rabbitohs backline as the Canberra five-eighth weighs up his NRL future.
Wighton, who retired from representative football earlier this week, has indicated he will test his value before deciding his next contract move.
The 30-year-old has spent the entirety of his NRL career with the Raiders.
Wighton has received interest from the Dolphins but reports emerged on Wednesday that Souths were also weighing up an offer.
Bunnies hooker Damien Cook said earlier this week that he would be keen for Wighton, who has close relationship with Souths duo Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, to join the club.
But Demetriou claimed such a move would hinge on the wiggle room in their salary cap.
“I love Jack and I know he’s got a lot of good friends in the club through rep footy,” Demetriou said.
“If Cookie’s willing to take a pay cut there’s probably something we can sit down and have a chat about.
“We’ll get all the big earners and see what they’re willing to do.
“We’d love to have him here if there was an opportunity to get him here, but we’re pretty full on the salary cap as well.
“It’s unlikely but we’ll see what happens.”
With Walker the team’s five-eighth, Wighton would most likely have to fill in at centre.
Demetriou lauded Walker as the game’s best No.6 after last week’s win over the Dolphins but he faces a much sterner test in his head-to-head battle with Jarome Luai.
Penrith have beaten Souths in 10 of their last 11 meetings and the Walker-Luai clash makes for salivating viewing on Thursday with State of Origin selection for NSW becoming a hot topic.
Walker hasn’t played for the Blues since 2020 and while backing his No.6, Demetriou conceded it would be hard for him to dislodge Luai.
“I’d be picking him (Walker) if I was picking a team but obviously I don’t pick the team,” Demetriou said.
“Jarome has done a great job over the last few years and he’s the incumbent.
“Jarome would have to be playing pretty ordinary not to get a start and I think he’s playing some good footy at the moment.
“Cody’s very much an attacking minded player and what I really like about Jarome is his ability to compete, he’s in the fight all the time.”
Demetriou confirmed star back-rower Keaon Koloamatangi would be back in six to eight weeks after undergoing ankle surgery, while revealing Siliva Havili, Liam Knight and Junior Tatola were all nearing a return to full fitness.
