Champion Canberra centre Jack Wighton has been spotted meeting Dolphins supercoach Wayne Bennett in Queensland as the race for the hottest property on the NRL open market heats up.
Fox League
can confirm Wighton flew to Brisbane on Thursday as the Dolphins upped the ante for his services by tabling a four-year deal to match the Canberra Raiders and South Sydney deals already on the table.
Dolphins recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan was also in the meeting with the NRL’s 17th team outlining their four-year pitch to the Raiders star.
Exclusive: Wighton spotted in QLD for Wayne Bennett meeting as Dolphins up ante to sign him
Wighton contract saga reignites salary transparency debate
The Jack Wighton contract saga is set to ignite debate about salary transparency, with the Canberra Raiders star facing a choice between perceived premiership success and becoming a million-dollar player.
South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly confirmed the Rabbitohs' interest in luring Wighton to the historic club.
The Raiders tabled their $4.4 million, four-year Wighton offer with the NRL to ensure there was transparency around the situation so they couldn't be low-balled by other offers.
EXCLUSIVE: Freddy's radical positional switch for Wighton as Joey casts doubt on $1m sacrifice
As fresh reports emerge of a bidding war between Canberra Raiders and the Dolphins for Jack Wighton's services, the South Sydney Rabbitohs are becoming the favourite for his signature.
Having originally tabled a three-year-deal to the Raiders five-eighth, Wayne Bennett's Dolphins have reportedly increased that offer to four years as the battle intensifies.
Canberra's $4.4m contract over four years is believed to be the highest bid for Wighton but the presence of great mate Latrell Mitchell could land him at the Rabbitohs.
