Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has spoken on Jack Wighton’s future transfer to the Rabbitohs, saying he “understands the decision” however was initially “really pissed off”.
Wighton ended weeks of hypothesis on Tuesday, when it was introduced he would be a part of Souths on a four-year deal from the 2024 season, turning down a lot richer provides from each the Raiders and the Dolphins.
Stuart stated he was “really pissed off” that Wighton determined to maneuver on stating that if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t “care about the club or Jack and I care about both of those.”
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“Jack and I have been communicating and the five or six different excuses I keep hearing out there are complete crap,” Stuart stated on Fox League earlier than the Raiders conflict with the Dolphins in Wagga.
“Jack wanted a change and I get that, the timing of it is wrong and I said earlier in the week, the system is flawed.
“Jack shouldn’t be put under this pressure in regards to having to make a decision now, there should be a window where everybody has the opportunity to make the decision to leave or stay at his club.
“It’s unfair on the fans, and I am all for the fans too because they are one of our biggest stakeholders.
“But Jack and I have had regular communication and I felt for Jack having to make the decision, I understand the decision, I’m comfortable for Jack making that decision to leave it was just unfortunate with the timing.”
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Under the present contracting system, gamers are free to barter with rival golf equipment within the last 12 months of their contract, with the deadline to signal sitting on November 1.
Despite the publicity surrounding the hypothesis and Wighton’s subsequent sighting, the Raiders coach stated he was happy with the way in which his facet has dealt with all of it.
“Credit to Jack and credit to the players it hasn’t disrupted out week, if we play well today it ain’t because of Jack Wighton and his decision,” Stuart stated.
“It is a disruption but credit to the players, they have just got on with the job.”
Earlier within the week, Bulldogs basic supervisor of soccer Phil Gould prompt a radical change to the NRL’s switch system within the wake of Wighton’s defection.
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In an try and distribute expertise evenly throughout the league, Gould believes the NRL have to introduce commerce home windows and a draft, very like you see in American sports activities.
“The Raiders are entitled to ask why, and the NRL is entitled, just for transparency to the fans, to say if a marquee player comes off contract at the Raiders, why is it they always end up at the Rabbitohs or the Roosters?” Gould stated on the Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
“There are probably 10 to 12 other clubs out there who would love to have Jack Wighton, would love the opportunity to free up a million dollars in their salary cap and help them get out of the cellar.
“This comes back to what I’m going to say — draft, trade windows.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au