This is the ninth instalment of 2020 in review. As is the tradition, now the Raiders' season is over, we are reviewing all 32 players who pulled on a green jersey this year. So far, we've looked at Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, Jarrod Croker, Curtis Scott, Nick Cotric, Bailey Simonsson, Semi Valemei and Michael Oldfield.
Jack Wighton has made a stunning transformation in the past two years. From fullback to five eighth. To representative player. To Clive Churchill Medalist. To Meninga Medalist. To Dally M Medalist, the NRL Player of the Year in 2020. He shared this year's Meninga Medal with Josh Papalii, before outpointing hot favourite Nathan Cleary in the Dally M count. He's just the third Canberra player to become a Dally M Medalist, with Laurie Daley being the last Raider to do it, a quarter of a century ago. Throw in the 2020 Dally M Five eighth of the Year award, and that's an impressive list of achievements.
For mine, Jack Wighton's best game came in Week 1 of the finals, when he simply grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. He scored a double in the space of three minutes, ensuring the Raiders took control of the match. It wasn't the only time he did it, scoring a double in four other games. I rated him an "8" in eight games (Rd 1 V Titans, Rd 5 V Tigers, Rd 11 V Rabbitohs, Rd 15 V Titans, Rd 16 V Bulldogs, Rd 18 V Dragons, Finals Wk 1 V Sharks, Finals Wk 2 V Roosters)... and an average of 7.1/10 during the season. My overall rating of 8.5/10, reflects his very strong contribution to the Green Machine's season.
He shared the Fans' Choice Player of the Year with Josh Papalii, Elliott Whitehead and George Williams - winning "man of the match" honours in five games (Rd 1 V Titans, Rd 5 V Tigers, Rd 15 V Titans, Rd 16 V Bulldogs, Finals Wk 1 V Sharks).
Wighton made 22 appearances in green in 2020. The only match he missed was the Round 20 clash with the Sharks, when coach Ricky Stuart rested a host of his stars. He ranked second at the club in the try scoring stakes (13), and equal first amongst regular NRL five eighths. No player at the Raiders produced more try involvements (29) and he was second only to George Williams for try assists (12). He also delivered 14 line break assists. He was just outside the top 10 NRL five eighths for try assists and line break assists - but his running game was a real strength. He ranked first amongst the regular NRL five eighths for total running metres and third for running metres per match. He was third at the Raiders for total tackle breaks (56) and third amongst regular NRL five eighths. He finished second for line breaks at the club (10).
Wighton again produced a strong kicking game. He averaged more kicking metres than any player at the club (264 metres from eight kicks per game). He ranked sixth in the NRL for total kicking metres and just outside the top 10 players for kicking metres per match. He got two 40/20 kicks and forced eight line drop outs. He does have a kick error in his game, however. He ranked first in the NRL for kicks dead (nine) for equal fifth for kick errors (11).
Jack Wighton is a tough, aggressive defender, with good technique. He averaged just over two missed tackles per game, but lifted his tackle efficiency to 86 per cent this year (84 per cent in 2019). He produced just four try causes, down from nine in 2019. He was way down the list of NRL five eighths for try causes and line break causes. He was in the top 10 five eighths for missed tackles, but his tackle efficiency rate was not too far below the bench mark players in that department.
Wighton had the highest error count at the Raiders (1.5 per match, in line with his count in 2019). That's going to happen when you touch the ball as often as one of the halves. But he did rank inside the top five five eighths for errors per game, so it is probably something he'll want to work on. He ranked equal second at the club for penalties conceded, behind only Elliott Whitehead.
Jack Wighton was suspended for the final 10 weeks of the 2018 competition after an off field indiscretion, a close shave with the law. Often, the redemption stories for Canberra Raiders come after they move to another club. Gladly, Jack Wighton has given us a great Raiders redemption story. There is no doubt he's now an elite player, awarded the NRL's highest honour. Here's hoping he can lead the Raiders to even greater heights in 2021.
How did you rate Jack Wighton's 2020? Tell us below.
Jack Wighton's 2020: 8.5/10
2020 Statistics: (Stats from Fox Sports Lab)
Games: 22
Average minutes: 79
Points: 52
Tries: 13
Try assists: 12
Try contributions: 4
Total try involvements: 29
Total kicks: 180
Kick metres: 5816
40/20's: 2
Forced line drop outs: 8
Average kicks per match: 8
Average kicking metres per match: 264
Kicks dead: 9
Kicking errors: 11
Total runs: 153
All run metres: 1628
Average metres per carry: 10
Average metres per game: 74
Tackle breaks: 56
Offloads: 4
Line breaks: 11
Line break assists: 14
Tackles: 389
Average tackles per game: 17
1 on 1 tackles: 70
Missed tackles: 48
Average missed tackles per game: 2
Ineffective tackles: 15
Tackle efficiency: 86 per cent
Try causes: 4
Errors: 33
Penalties conceded: 10
Sin bins: 1
