The Canberra Raiders have received a huge boost ahead of the 2020 season, with star playmaker Jack Wighton re-signing with the club on a new four-year deal which will see him in green until the end of 2024.
Wighton was among the Raiders best during 2019, with a shift to five-eighth seeing him develop into one of the game’s most dangerous playmakers, claiming the Clive Churchill medal for the best player in the 2019 Grand Final.
His stunning form was also rewarded with representative honours during 2019, as he made his debut for the NSW Blues and the Australian Kangaroos during a magnificent season.
Wighton made his debut for the Raiders in 2012 and has played 156 matches for the club scoring 46 tries.
Having made the Grand Final in 2019, Wighton said his re-signing was all about helping the club go one step further and said his decision to stay at the club was based on future success.
“I want to win a competition with the Raiders,” Wighton said. “I know we have the squad to do it and if we can stay together and continue what we’ve built we’ll be able to achieve our goal.”
He said Canberra was his home and where he wanted to stay and was grateful for the way the club had given him his opportunities.
“I love the club. They’ve always been there for me and I want to repay them by staying and playing the best footy I can to be successful,” he said.
Raiders CEO Don Furner said Wighton’s re-signing had been a priority and that Jack’s decision was based on remaining with the club and achieving success.
“Jack has been with the club since he was a junior and this deal will see him become a 10-year player at first grade level, which in this era is a significant achievement,” Furner said. “It’s also worth noting that during the negotiations Jack’s decision to re-sign was based mainly on future success, which shows the belief he has in the club moving forward.”
“Jack could have earnt more money by signing with another club but sacrificed that against what we have here in Canberra. He took much less money to stay and that says a lot about Jack and his stability here.”
