NRL to investigate Jack Wighton’s deal with South Sydney as salary cap stoush erupts

The NRL has vowed to open a probe into Jack Wighton’s bombshell move to South Sydney after Canberra officials lodged a formal complaint with league CEO Andrew Abdo.

According to News Corp, the Raiders have called for NRL salary cap auditors to investigate the contract.

‘The salary cap auditor will review the contract and test market value,’ Abdo said.

‘We haven’t received anything yet [from South Sydney].

Wighton signed a four-year deal with the Rabbitohs and will join forces with former New South Wales teammates Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray from next season.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the salary cap auditor will review the deal

The Dolphins were also in the running for the New South Wales five-eight and Wayne Bennett spoke to Wighton as late as Sunday night in a bid to convince him to move to Queensland.

Ultimately, not even the veteran coach could dissuade the Raiders gun from signing with Souths, leaving the NRL’s newcomers again frustrated in their quest to land a marquee signing. 

And the deal has reportedly triggered a furious salary cap row between the Raiders and Souths.

Canberra want the NRL to scrutinise the deal when it is formally lodged by the Rabbitohs to ensure it is compliant with the salary cap. 

The Raiders also want to ensure the Bunnies’ deal is on par with their proposal, which came in at $1.1million-a-season over four years. 

It is understood the offer was the most lucrative of those put forward to Wighton, who according to News Corp will give up in the region of $1million to sign with Souths.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Wighton, who retired from representative footy last week, stands to make around $800,000-a-season in Redfern. 

The Bunnies are expected to argue Wighton’s value should be based as a centre, where Jason Demetriou has indicated he will play, instead of his current role of five-eight.

Ricky Stuart (left) and the Raiders are said to be extremely disappointed with losing Crichton, while the Dolphins and Wayne Bennett (right) missed out on another marquee signing

In December, Souths re-signed Mitchell and Cody Walker through to the end of 2027 and 2025 respectively. They also extended Tom Burgess’ deal until the end of next season and re-signed Siliva Havili, Jacob Host and Cody Walker through to 2025 too. 

Wighton is set to add firepower to the Rabbitohs’ lethal left edge by beginning his four-year contract at centre, the position he most frequently played in his 10-game State of Origin career.

Wighton’s future had been the subject of intense interest since late last month when the 2020 Dally M Medallist told the Raiders he would test the open market for the first time since signing as a teenager.

The 30-year-old had become synonymous with the Raiders across a first-grade career spanning 12 seasons and 225 games, and given his close relationship with coach Ricky Stuart the mooted switch is a source of surprise.

The Dolphins and Rabbitohs emerged as the front-runners to poach Wighton, despite earlier links to the Wests Tigers and Parramatta.

The Redcliffe-based club failed to secure a marquee spine player for their inaugural season so had the wherewithal to pay him a seven-figure salary.

The Rabbitohs, preliminary finalists in each of the last five seasons, appeared the best chance of the three suitors to offer Wighton a maiden premiership ring.

Wighton also has close friendships with fellow Indigenous stars Mitchell and Walker, as well as their South Sydney captain Cam Murray.

In Sydney, Wighton will be reunited with close friends and New South Wales and Indigenous All-Star teammate Latrell Mitchell (left)

Wighton announced last week he’d called time on his State of Origin career 

Wighton’s imminent arrival is a major coup for the Rabbitohs. He is able to play in any backline position, guided the Raiders to the 2019 grand final and boasts both a Dally M and Clive Churchill Medal.

He was also a consistent performer at State of Origin and international levels before announcing his representative retirement earlier this month.

The move also puts Canberra in the market for a five-eighth for 2024.

Luke Brooks, Shaun Johnson and Kyle Flanagan are among the halves coming out of contract, while back-up Raiders playmakers Brad Schneider and Matt Frawley are also without deals for next season.