Wighton to play in face of brawling allegations

CANBERRA have chosen troubled fullback Jack Wighton to play in tomorrow night’s desperation match against Canterbury despite an ongoing police investigation into his alleged involvement in a nightclub brawl.

The NRL integrity unit has been alerted to an ACT police probe into a late-night brawl in the Canberra suburb of Civic involving six men.

Police have obtained CCTV footage of the fight but the integrity unit, unlike in previous cases, has made no attempt to contact the nightclub or obtain video of the brawl.

Wighton’s immediate future is under a cloud over allegations he was involved in the serious assault of up to three men in the week before the start of the season.

Wighton has been interviewed by detectives who are poised to press charges.

The Raiders fullback was out with a friend – not a footballer – when the pair allegedly became involved in an argument and then a fight with a group of four men.

An NRL spokesman confirmed the integrity unit had been alerted.

Raiders CEO Don Furner phoned integrity unit investigator Karen Murphy when the incident was alleged to have occurred. The integrity unit is monitoring the situation and waiting to see if charges will be laid – a different approach to previous cases in which the NRL has carried out its own inquires.

The Raiders have had their worst start to a season since 1997 and a loss to the Bulldogs this week would be their poorest start to a season since 1982.

The allegations have angered coach Ricky Stuart, who has mentored Wighton since became Raiders coach in 2014.