CANBERRA Raiders coach David Furner has been impressed with the way Orange junior Jack Wighton has handled the week-to-week demands of the National Rugby League since debuting in round two.
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But really, Furner never doubted the 18-year-old would.
“I think he has always shown (he can handle it),” Furner told the Central Western Daily.
“In pre-season he didn’t look out of place and I think that helped with his selection. And when you have other first grade players around the club saying they can’t wait to get out there and play with Jack, it certainly says something about the kid.
“He has shown plenty of ability in the 20s and he has made his mark. He has handled the step up.”
Wighton scored his first try in the top grade in the Green Machine’s seven tries to two rout of the New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
It was the Bloomfield and Orange CYMS’ products first four pointer in five first grade games.
For a winger, one from five isn’t the best strike rate.
But Furner isn’t concerned. Far from it.
He said Wighton’s form “speaks for itself.”
“Jack, I’m amazed by the young kid,” Furner enthused.
“It’s an aggressive environment and he handles it quite well. Teams are going to test him and certainly on the wing he is going to see a few high balls but on kick returns he brings it straight back into the forwards.
“His mentality, he has shown he is level headed and that’s a good trait to have.”
The 32-12 win over the Warriors as an important one for Furner.
“I think it was a much needed win,” the Australian assistant coach said.
“We executed well but in saying that there is a lot of room for improvement. I think at times we, not so much let the gas off, but we need to be more patient.”
The Raiders will need patience this week.
Wighton and the Raiders will tackle the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
It’ll be the biggest challenge of the Raiders’ seasons so far.
Currently sitting sixth with a 3-3 record, the Raiders must be at their best to beat a Broncos team that has only tasted defeat once this year, a 28-26 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys.