Canberra Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton has landed in sizzling water after the 2020 Dally M Medal winner twice landed on report in a 24-14 loss to the Newcastle Knights.
Wighton faces a nervous wait after two excessive photographs had been positioned on report, with the Raiders star admitting he may face a stint on the sideline.
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Wighton was penalised and placed on report for a excessive shot on Lachlan Miller within the twenty third minute because the Knights fullback tried to get out of his in-goal.
Fox League analyst Corey Parker mentioned “there was intent, it was excessive. And if that’s the case … he needs to be within the bin.”
However Wighton stayed on the sphere and scored the Raiders’ second attempt.
Wighton was sin binned within the forty eighth minute after he was deemed to have left the bottom to contact Jackson Hastings’ head as he went to place stress on the Knights halfback.
And if that wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, a child caught him out with the oldest trick within the guide.
Strolling from the sphere after being given his marching orders, a younger fan held his hand out over the tunnel, solely withdrawing it as he lastly lulled Wighton in for a high-five.
It didn’t get any higher for the Raiders because the Knights scored what can be the ultimate factors of the day as Tyson Frizell crossed a minute later.
Requested after the sport in regards to the sin bin, Wighton admitted he acquired it fallacious.
“It occurred fast, I used to be simply attempting to placed on some kick stress, he was getting away good kicks all day,” Wighton mentioned. “There was no malice in it.
“I’ll have to take a look at it, I don’t know the way ugly or if it’s even unhealthy.”
Requested about if he was anxious in regards to the drama, he mentioned: “After a number of the suspensions these days, I assume you’ll at all times must have a little bit of worry.”
However whereas it was about as unhealthy because it may very well be for the Raiders to stoop to second final on the ladder, it was precisely what the Knights needed, maintaining the customer scoreless within the second half.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien was pleased with his gamers and joyful for the city.
“For (the followers) to see the gamers struggle the way in which they did and get the win, after which to see the enjoyment on the people who have simply stored turning up after being on the again of some massive rating strains and a few disappointment, it’s nice. It’s superior.
“Credit score to the gamers. We’ve spoken about taking part in an up-tempo fashion … (within the second half) we needed to start out excessive vitality with the ball and full our units clinically and arrange the sport.
“And never get sick of kicking into corners.
“I believed they executed that excellent. I’m proud.”
The Raiders went to the break main 14-8 after Jack Wighton and Hudson Younger traded tries with Greg Marzhew and Bradman Greatest.
Corey Harawira-Naera’s two conversions and a two-point subject aim by halfback Matt Frawley – drafted into the facet three hours earlier than kick-off when Jamal Fogarty was dominated out with a abdomen grievance – was the distinction.
A 3-try blitz early within the second half received the sport for Newcastle.
A lovely floating cross by Tyson Gamble put Marzhew within the nook. Gagai scored on the appropriate after a dominant set of six.
Miller took over the goalkicking from Hastings – who’d badly hooked two makes an attempt – and sliced in each conversions from the western touchline.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart mentioned his workforce didn’t cease attempting and paid credit score to a Newcastle defensive unit that “didn’t break”. However he added that a few of his workforce’s defensive errors had been “inexcusable”.
“It comes again to execution and never being good in areas that we needed to be good at defensively … it’s inexcusable, a number of the tries they scored,” Stuart mentioned.
With Matt Cleary, NCA NewsWire
