Jack Wighton's certainly had an up-and-down season, but the big dipper on his 2021 campaign came on Friday night.
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After two stunning campaigns with the Raiders in 2019 and 2020, where he picked up the Clive Churchill medal and then Dally M medal in respective seasons and guided the Green Machine to a grand final appearance and then a preliminary final, the defending Meninga Medal winner failed to finish in this year's top five.
Wighton played in NSW's winning State of Origin series, but barely landed a punch in the Raiders' regular season as the Canberra side bumbled its way through life in the bubble and ultimately had its season brought to an end by an undermanned Roosters on Thursday night.
Wighton's form has been brought under the spotlight in the wake of the Raiders not making the top eight, with some experts questioning his ability to be Canberra's main man in the halves.
What's not in question is the season veteran Raider Jordan Rapana enjoyed, capping his third most prolific season by claiming his first Meninga Medal.
Rapana played 21 matches for the Raiders in 2021, and was easily their most reliable performer on the wing and at fullback, finishing with 12 tries.
It was a return to the form Rapana showed in 2016-17 during which he scored 44 tries for the club, and the 32-year-old's efforts were rewarded last month when he signed a contract extension through to 2023.
He also provided coach Ricky Stuart with a reliable option at fullback, after regular custodian Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was waylaid with a neck injury, and his replacement Bailey Simonsson hurt his toe.
Rapana finished on 21 votes in the Mal Meninga tally, six clear of four-time winner Josh Papalii, with Englishman Ryan Sutton a point further adrift.
The Raiders had a small ceremony to celebrate their end of season awards, after the COVID pandemic forced them to cancel the event.
Hooker Tom Starling was awarded the Coaches Award, as young guns Harley Smith-Shields and Matt Timoko split Rookie of the Year honours. Tireless trainer Grant Hogan won Club Person of the year, while Trey Mooney won the club's junior representative player of the year.
Meninga Medal Top 5
- 21 Votes - Jordan Rapana
- 15 Votes - Josh Papalii
- 14 Votes - Ryan Sutton
- 13 Votes - Joe Tapine
- 11 Votes - Tom Starling
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James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
