Nov 13, 2019 THE YEAR THAT WAS | Jack Wighton

Jack Wighton has had the best season of his career.

 

The country boy from Orange earned himself a Holden State of Origin jersey in all three games for NSW, a Clive Churchill Medal and Australian representative debut in the green and gold.

 

What a year.

 

 

Wighton’s positional switch to five-eighth proved a treat for Canberra’s attack, with the 26-year-old often outplaying his opponents and creating points for the green machine.

 

The preliminary final saw Wighton out-do himself when he scored a try in the 44^th minute against the South Sydney Rabbitohs to ultimately take his team to “the big dance.”

 

An attempted catch of the ball that slipped through his hands onto his boot actually looked like a polished kick at first to the naked eye, but Wighton revealed it was all luck.

 

“I went to pick it up. Fell out. Kicked it. Try.” Wighton laughed as he explained it to NRL.com.

 

An epic moment for the Raiders veteran and all the fans packed at GIO stadium cheering them on.

 

 

 

It was State of Origin Game III and the Blues ran out for what would be the most epic second half in Origin history.

 

The sides were even 8-all when three minutes into the half, Will Chambers slipped through a Maloney tackle and ran towards the try-line, only to be greeted by a charging number 4 from behind, Wighton, 25 metres away from the try-line.

 

The tackle was monumental as it not only plummeted the opposition to the ground, it caused a loose ball and regained possession for NSW.

 

A true testament to coach Brad Fittlers 2019 ‘make it happen’ motto, Wighton performs to extreme lengths for success in any side he plays in whether it be Canberra, NSW or Australia.

 

 

 

Jackie Boi earned the ultimate accolade to top of his year when he won the Clive Churchill at the 2019 Grand Final, the fourth person in history on the defeated side to take home the medal.

 

Despite feeling mixed emotions, Wighton expressed his gratitude towards his achievement and aims for an even bigger and better 2020… if that’s possible.