Jack Wighton is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He plays as a fullback or five-eighth for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL. He was born on February 4, 1993, in Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Despite coming from a humble background, Wighton’s talent was spotted early and this led to his NRL debut with Canberra in 2012 at the age of just 19.
Jack Wighton Biography:
| Full Name | Jack Wighton |
| Date of Birth | 4 February, 1993 |
| Place of Birth | Orange, New South Wales, Australia |
| Age | 31 years old |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 190 centimeters (6 feet 3 inches) |
| Weight | 96 kilograms (212 pounds) |
| Position | Fullback, Five-eighth |
| NRL Debut | 2012 |
| NRL Team | Canberra Raiders |
| State of Origin | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Test Matches (Australia) | 12 |
| Test Tries (Australia) | 3 |
| NRL Premierships | 0 |
| World Cup Wins (Australia) | 1 (2021) |
| Wife | Monisha Jadow Wighton |
| Children | Two daughters (Ariah, Baye) |
| Mother | Christine Wighton |
| Father | Gary Wighton |
| Siblings | Brother: Jarrod Wighton, Sister: Sharnee Wighton |
| Net Worth | Approximately $3 million |
| Salary | Estimated $800,000 per year (as of 2024) |
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Who is Jack Wighton?
Jack Wighton is a professional rugby league football player from Australia. He currently plays for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He grew up playing junior rugby league football in the country town of Bathurst before being signed by the Canberra Raiders as a teenager.
Wighton made his NRL debut for the Raiders in 2012 at just 19 years old. He started out playing in the centers and on the wing, using his size, strength and speed to make impacts out wide. Over time he transitioned into the halves as a five-eighth or stand-off.
One of Jack’s career highlights was winning the Clive Churchill Medal in 2019 as the best player in that year’s NRL Grand Final, despite the Raiders losing to the Sydney Roosters. He scored two tries and kicked three goals in a brilliant individual performance.
In 2020, Jack switched positions again to fullback for Canberra. This role allows him to get more involved defensively as the last line and use his ball-playing skills to organise the team’s attack. His versatility to play multiple positions is highly valuable.
Off the field, Wighton experienced some disciplinary issues early in his career involving alcohol-related incidents. However, he turned his life around and is now considered a leader and role model at the Raiders club.
In 2022, Jack achieved his biggest career accolade by being selected to make his international debut for the Australian Kangaroos national team. He played fullback in the World Cup final win over Samoa.
Jack Wighton’s early life and education:
Jack Wighton was born on February 4, 1993 in the regional city of Orange in central-western New South Wales, Australia. He grew up in the nearby country town of Bathurst with his parents and siblings.
From a young age, Jack showed a passion and talent for sports, especially rugby league football. He came from a sporting family with his father being a former rugby league player himself at a semi-professional level.
Jack attended Bathurst South Public School for his primary education. It was here that he first started playing junior rugby league for the Bathurst Panthers club at the age of 5. His skills and potential were quickly noticed.
For his high school years, Wighton went to Denison College of Secondary Education, which is regarded as one of the best sports schools in regional New South Wales. He continued excelling at rugby league as well as other sports like athletics and basketball.
Wighton represented Denison College at rugby league and was part of the school’s winning team at the prestigious NSW Combined High Schools tournament in 2009 and 2010. His outstanding performances at this level attracted the attention of talent scouts and player recruiters.
In 2010, at just 17 years old, Jack was signed by the Canberra Raiders club in the National Rugby League competition. He relocated over 300km away from his hometown of Bathurst to live in the national capital and join the Raiders’ junior development system.
Despite his tender age, Wighton quickly progressed through the Raiders’ junior ranks and made his debut for the club’s NYC under-20s team in 2011. His form was so impressive that he earned an NRL debut with the top Canberra side just a year later at 19 years old.
Jack may have come from a humble upbringing in the country, but his prodigious sporting talent, dedication and sacrifices from a young age paved the way for him to become a professional rugby league footballer. His early life and high school years were the foundations for what would become an outstanding NRL career.
Jack Wighton’s Family and Wife:
Jack Wighton comes from a sporting family background which helped shape his passion for rugby league from an early age. His father, Gary Wighton, played semi-professional rugby league in his younger days.
Gary worked as a fitter and turner by trade, while Jack’s mother Christine was a nurses’ aide. They raised Jack and his two younger siblings, brother Jarrod and sister Sharnee, in the country town of Bathurst in central-western New South Wales.
As a child, Jack was always kicking a football around with his dad Gary, who nurtured his son’s love for the sport. Jack’s parents made many sacrifices to support his rugby league development, driving him to training and games all over the region.
When Jack earned a contract with the Canberra Raiders at age 17, he had to move away from home to live in the national capital. This was a challenge for the tight-knit Wighton family, but they were fully supportive of Jack chasing his NRL dream.
Jack’s younger brother Jarrod has also forged a career in rugby league, currently playing for the Bathurst Panthers in the country competition. Their sister Sharnee represented NSW at hockey during her school years.
In 2016, Jack met his now wife Monisha Jadow-Wighton. She worked as a dental assistant in Canberra. The couple started dating and fell in love.
Jack and Monisha married in 2019 and have since welcomed two children into their family – daughter Ariah in 2020 and son Baye in 2022. Fatherhood has been an amazing experience for the proud dad.
Despite reaching the highest levels of rugby league, Jack has remained humble and grounded thanks to the values instilled by his parents. He is very close with his family, who try to attend as many of his games as possible in Canberra and further afield.
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Jack Wighton’s Career:
Jack Wighton has had a long and successful rugby league career playing in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. He has represented his state and country at the highest levels while achieving numerous individual honors and milestones.
Wighton was born in 1993 in the regional city of Orange, New South Wales. He grew up in the nearby town of Bathurst and showed incredible sporting ability from a young age. Rugby league was his biggest passion, following in the footsteps of his father Gary who had played semi-professionally.
As a teenager, Jack’s talents were quickly noticed by scouts. He represented NSW at under-18s level and earned selection in the prestigious Australian Schoolboys team in 2010. That same year, the Canberra Raiders signed the 17-year-old prospect.
Wighton wasted no time rising through Canberra’s junior ranks. In 2012, at just 19 years old, he made his NRL debut for the Raiders against the Gold Coast Titans. He had an excellent first game on the wing, immediately showing his potential.
Over the next few seasons, Wighton’s versatility shone through as he played multiple positions including center, five-eighth, and fullback. He cemented his spot in the Raiders’ top side while also earning representative honors for NSW Country and the Indigenous All Stars team.
A major career highlight arrived in 2019 when Wighton finally earned his debut for the New South Wales State of Origin side. He featured in all three games off the bench as the Blues claimed the series victory over Queensland.
That same year proved to be a breakout campaign for the talented utilityman. He starred at five-eighth for Canberra as they qualified for their first NRL grand final in 25 years. Despite a narrow loss to the Sydney Roosters, Wighton was awarded the prestigious Clive Churchill Medal as the best player on the field.
His red-hot form continued into 2020 as Wighton claimed the Raiders’ Player of the Year award. He also incredibly won the Dally M Medal as the NRL’s best and fairest player, edging out superstars like Nathan Cleary.
Higher representative honors soon followed as Wighton made his long-awaited international debut for the Australian Kangaroos at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England. He played fullback in the Kangaroos’ final victory over Samoa.
Back in the NRL, Wighton remained a consistent performer and leader for the Raiders over the following two seasons. However, he made headlines for the wrong reasons when he was allegedly involved in a public fight with Latrell Mitchell in early 2023.
The incident led to Wighton announcing his retirement from rep football later that year at age 30. He also decided to depart his beloved Raiders after over a decade at the club, signing a lucrative 4-year deal with the South Sydney Rabbitohs starting in 2024.
Wighton’s final game for Canberra ended in controversy when he was placed on report for an alleged biting incident in their elimination final loss to Newcastle. He was ultimately suspended for the first 3 games of the 2024 season.
Despite the disrupted start, the veteran speedily adapted to life at his new Rabbitohs club. He scored tries in South Sydney’s first win of the year and looked set to play a major role for the star-studded squad over the long contract.
Overall, Jack Wighton has achieved an immense amount in the rugby league arena over his career so far. He became a versatile NRL superstar from a naturally gifted junior who tasted premiership glory with club, state, and country. His big-game prowess and winning mentality have been his calling cards.
While not without some off-field disciplinary blemishes, Wighton’s skills and longevity at the highest level are undeniable. He will go down as a modern-day great of the NRL era, having given his absolute all to the rugby league cause over many years of elite performance.
Jack Wighton Stats:
| Games Played (NRL) | 259 |
| Tries Scored (NRL) | 105 |
| Points Scored (NRL) | 642 |
| State of Origin Games (NSW) | 10 |
| State of Origin Tries (NSW) | 5 |
| Test Matches (Australia) | 12 |
| Test Tries (Australia) | 3 |
| NRL Premierships | 0 |
| World Cup Wins (Australia) | 1 (2021) |
Jack Wighton’s Net Worth and Salary:
Jack Wighton is estimated to have a net worth of around $3 million. As a professional rugby league player at the elite NRL level for over a decade, he has earned substantial wealth through his playing contracts and endorsements over the years.
In 2024, Wighton signed a lucrative 4-year deal with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. While the exact figures were not disclosed, reports suggest his annual salary with Souths is valued at approximately $800,000 per season.
This $800,000 per year salary makes Wighton one of the highest-paid players in the NRL competition. It reflects his standing as an established representative star and match-winner.
His previous contracts with the Canberra Raiders would have paid him less than this amount earlier in his career. However, strong performances, representative honors, and individual accolades allowed Wighton to command top dollar on the open market.
At age 31, this long-term South Sydney deal until 2027 provides Wighton with financial security and recognition as an elite talent worth investing in during his peak years.
Jack Wighton’s Age, Height and Weight:
Jack Wighton was born on February 4, 1993. He is currently 31 years old. Wighton celebrated his 31st birthday earlier this year in 2024.
Wighton stands at an impressive 190 centimeters or 6 feet 3 inches tall. His height allows him to be a towering presence whether he is playing in the halves, at fullback, or in the centers.
Jack’s current listed weight is 96 kilograms or just over 15 stone 2 pounds. He has a solid, athletic build that combines size and strength with speed and agility on the field.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where is Jack Wighton from?
He is from Orange, Australia.
How old is Jack Wighton?
Jack Wighton is 31 years old.
What position does Jack Wighton play?
Jack Wighton plays as a fullback or five-eighth.
How much does Jack Wighton earn?
Jack Wighton earn approximately $800,000 per year.
What school did Jack Wighton go to?
Jack Wighton went to Denison College of Secondary Education.
How much is Jack Wighton’s Net Worth?
Jack Wighton’s net worth is approximately $3 million.
