'I'm no position': Wighton happy to play wherever Meninga needs him

Raiders star Jack Wighton has told Mal Meninga he doesn’t mind what position he plays as the Kangaroos coach tries to settle on a line-up for the upcoming sudden death matches at the World Cup.

“I’m no position. I just play footy and I love it,” Wighton said. “I have no real trademark position, I am just a footballer so whatever the team needs is what I will do.”

Wighton started on the bench in Australia’s opening World Cup win against Fiji and played in the centres during last weekend’s 84-0 thumping of Scotland, scoring two tries.

With Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr expected to be left centre and wing, Wighton’s position in the team depends largely on where he decides to play Valentine Holmes.

If Holmes is selected in the centres, either Murray Taulagi or Campbell Graham will be his right edge partner but if he is chosen on the wing then Wighton or Matt Burton are the most likely centre options.

During his 220 NRL appearances for Canberra and 10 Origins for NSW, Wighton has played every position in the backline, as well as the role of bench utility.

Being the rugby league equivalent of a scrabble blank should secure him a spot in the team. 

“I don’t mind that utility type of role,” he said ahead of this weekend’s final pool match against Italy. “It is a different role than I play all year, so it is a bit of a freshen up and I am always learning.

“I honestly have no idea what Mal will do, and I am not looking too far ahead. Anywhere I can play in the team is a blessing and if not, I will help the team to prepare the best I can.”

The Canberra playmaker is one of the few players to have previously played in England but that was a decade ago as a member of the 2012 Australian Schoolboys team.

He is enjoying his time with the Kangaroos under the coaching of Meninga, who is a revered figure in Canberra and across the game, including England, where he toured four times and played for St Helens.

“He is the biggest name to have come out of the Raiders and there is so much respect for him,” Wighton said.

“The whole of Canberra loves him, and I think the whole footy community loves him, so it is really good to be rubbing shoulders and learning of the big fellow. He has got so much experience with tours, rugby league and life itself.

“We are really big on trying to bring back history at the Raiders and a lot of it goes back to him. We got so many signings back in the day because of him and his presence at the club.

“The foundations come from him - just his aura and his presence. At the reunions you hear so many players say they came to Canberra because Mal was there.

“You can tell he cares about the jumper and he cares for us so I want to do well for him.”

After a heavy injury toll early in the season, the Raiders finished strongly and beat the Storm in Melbourne in the opening week of the finals before bowing out to the Eels.

“It was a fun year down there. We had a long year last year with COVID and a few dramas on and off the field so last season was a real good season for us,” he said.

“We fought hard and just ran out of puff at the end so there is a lot of good to come out of that.

“Canberra has got a special place in my heart and I will do everything I can to get the place right and go as far as we can.”

Kiwis coach Michael Maguire, another former Raiders player, will join Ricky Stuart’s staff as a senior consultant next season and Wighton is looking forward to working under the 2014 premiership winning coach.

“I don’t think I have had Madge before as a coach but I asked a few of the boys in this camp and they all said he is a really good person and very intense, so that is going to be interesting with him and Sticky together,” he joked.

“They said he is a great bloke and he cares so I am excited to have him on board and to learn a bit off him.

“If you go off his history, he has won grand finals in both the NRL and Super League, and he has won Test matches, so he has got a great record and I am looking forward to building a relationship with him.”