The NRL's relocation to Queensland during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 was a tumultuous time for the entire sport but it also helped sow the seeds for South Sydney's shock bid to sign Canberra star Jack Wighton.
The Rabbitohs came from nowhere earlier this week to hit the front in the race to sign the New South Wales and Australian representative with Wighton's relationship with close mate Latrell Mitchell the driving force behind the unexpected development.
But Wighton's links with South Sydney go deeper than his friendship with Mitchell – they stretch all the way back to NRL's wholesale COVID relocation two years ago.
"When we were in lockdown we hung out with the Raiders boys a...