THE stepfather of Orange product Jack Wighton believes a combination of the Canberra Raiders’ recent form and his selection in the Country Origin side is maturing the dynamic 22-year-old into the player his family always dreamed he’d be.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
David Dong has watched Wighton play for Bloomfield and CYMS in his junior days in Orange, and says the speed, the footwork, the jarring defence and the deft slight of hand has always been with his prodigious step son.
“He was always a talented kid,” Dong said.
“But he’s now a talented young man. He’s got the focus and we’d always hoped he’d do well for himself, but you never imagine these things will happen.”
On Sunday night, Wighton was named in his third Country side, after debuting as a 20-year-old in 2013.
Wighton played against City last year in Dubbo too, and will this year enter the side as confident as ever following on from the Raiders’ come-from-behind 30-22 victory over defending premiers South Sydney - the second week in a row the green machine has stormed home to win following a similar performance against the Wests Tigers in round seven.
Dong said the form of Wighton, who’s been named in the centres by coach Trent Barrett, would ensure he’ll again handle the step up to representative football.
“He’s always very proud to represent Country,” Dong said, with this year’s side captained by another Orange product, Saint Joseph’s Sheahan junior James Maloney.
“He’s been doing it since he was a young kid. Everyone says this type of footy is a step up, and State of Origin is another different level entirely.
“Any chance he gets to experience rep footy, it’s something he’s very happy to take.”
Shifting to fullback this season has taken Wighton’s game to a new level, and in Sunday’s eight-point triumph over the Rabbitohs the Raiders’ custodian ran 14 times for 137 metres, set up a try and a line break, busted five tackles and recorded an offload in 80 minutes at Cairns’ Barlow Park.
It was Wighton’s best game since tearing Cronulla apart in round one of this year, where he scored two tries - one an 80-metre, individual effort - and set up another in the Raiders’ four-point win.
Dong believes the young-gun is only just developing into a top flight fullback now, and still has plenty of improvement left in his game.
“I think he’d admit he’s still go a little bit to learn playing the position but it’s all experience,” he said.
Country takes on City in Wagga Wagga on Sunday.
COUNTRY: 1 David Mead (Marist Brothers Rams), 2 Akuila Uate (Woy Woy), 3 Jarrod Croker (Goulburn Stockmen), 4 Jack Wighton (Orange CYMS), 5 James McManus (Newcastle JRL), 6 James Maloney (St Edwards Gosford), 7 Jarrod Mullen (Wests Newcastle), 8 Dale Finucane (Bega Roosters), 9 Ryan Hinchcliffe (Temora Dragons), 10 Kade Snowden (Belmont North), 11 Joel Thompson (Forbes Magpies), 12 Tyson Frizell (Corrimal Cougars), 13 Josh Jackson (Gulgong Terriers), 14 Jack Bird (Berkeley Eagles), 15 Paul Vaughan (Gungahlin Bulls), 16 Tariq Sims (Gerringong Lions), 17 Ryan James (Bilambil Jets).
