Canberra’s Jack Wighton is in hot water with the NRL for his comments suggesting the referee was trying to help West Tigers win their Sunday showdown.
Wighton was penalised and put on report for a high tackle on Tigers centre Starford To’a in the final seconds of the Raiders’ 22-18 victory.
While he escaped sanction from the match review committee for the try-saving tackle, the Canberra veteran was charged with contrary conduct for a comment directed at referee Peter Gough.
Wighton said: “You’re trying hard to give this to them. You’re trying hard. That was a good tackle.”
Gough responded: “If you want to stay on the field, stop.
“It’s high, it’s on report, we’re going to have a penalty.”
The 30-year-old Wighton can escape with a $3000 fine with an early guilty plea or risk a two game ban if he fights the charge and is found guilty.
Ironically, Gough and the bunker allowed a blatant Wighton forward pass that set up a second half try for Sebastian Kris.
The pass was clearly forward out of Wighton’s hands and then bounced further forward but was missed by the touch judge who had a clear view.
Wighton’s charge comes just a month after Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh was suspended for three matches after being found guilty at the NRL judiciary of an expletive-laden outburst at referee Chris Butler during a game.