It will take more than a sore shoulder to keep Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton from completing his remarkable redemption story in the NRL grand final next Sunday.
Wighton will play in his first premiership decider less than 12 months after being handed a suspended jail sentence for an alcohol-fuelled assault outside a Canberra nightclub.
The 26-year-old reflected on his comeback story after the Raiders upstaged South Sydney with an epic 16-10 victory in front of a sold-out GIO Stadium on Friday night.
“I’ve been here a few years and last year was one of my lowest lows,” Wighton told AAP.
“One of my biggest promises was to repay the boys and repay the club and there’s no better way to do it than to make the grand final as a team.
“It’s the same in all of life: you’ve got to have your lows to enjoy the highs and it just makes it 10 times better.
“Success is the best type of revenge and turning it around this year and not buying into all the bullshit; I’m in a happy spot.”
Wighton was at his ferocious best in defence against Souths but copped a knock to the shoulder when being tackled late in the game.
“I feel good, got a little bit of a pincher on the top of the shoulder but I’ll be all good (for the grand final),” Wighton said.
Canberra’s revival this season has been built on a new-found defence which coincided with their best defender, Wighton, moving into the front line.
He switched from fullback to five-eighth in 2019 and took to his new position with such aplomb he earned a State of Origin debut for NSW.
Wighton is now determined to play his way into an Australian jumper for the Kangaroos end-of-year Tests against New Zealand and Tonga.
“Our defence is something we’ve worked really hard on and the results are showing,” he said.
“We put in a lot of hours through the preseason and a lot of hours through the year and it’s showing.”
The Raiders are in their first grand final since 1994 and looking to end a 25-year premiership drought when they face Melbourne or Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium.
“We’ve got to really embrace it and take it all in and enjoy our moment,” Wighton said.
“You don’t get these moments very often so you’ve got to embrace and make sure you play your best footy.”
