Canberra Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton is maturing off the field and evolving on it as he embodies a new look Green Machine that's putting the past behind it.
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It's a vastly different Wighton who will help lead the Raiders around Brookvale against Manly Warringah on Sunday.
Wighton said the turmoil of last year, when he was found guilty of assault, plus the fact the 26-year-old was a year older and had 136 NRL games under his belt had helped him mature.
It's something Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has noticed across the whole team as they look to build on their excellent start to the season - sitting third after four straight wins.
Wighton admitted his maturity off the field had helped him in his switch from fullback to five-eighth as well.
He tried the move back in 2014, before settling into the No.1 jersey, but was enjoying it more the second time around.
"I had that long year last year and I've been around the game a little bit longer now so every year you're around the game and the more games you play you get that maturity about it," Wighton said on Thursday.
"I probably wouldn't have handled the role three or four years ago. We tried it and I wasn't quite up to it.
"But I'm still learning now and I've got a lot of learning to go. The maturity and the extra couple of years has helped."
Stuart told The Canberra Times he was gradually building Wighton's game, introducing new elements every week.
His kicking game has improved noticeably as he starts to incorporate delicate kicks into his game.
He's also taken control of the Raiders' left edge in attack, where he already had good combinations with Jarrod Croker and Nick Cotric from his time at fullback.
Most importantly, he's backing himself "to have a go".
"Ricky's just been careful with how much he overloads me," Wighton said.
"He really wants me to get the basics down pat first before he starts chucking in this, that and everything.
"But it's starting to come along well now so we're starting to evolve a bit more now and chuck in a few little things here and there.
"Probably see now after a couple of weeks I'm starting to step up on the left edge and be the first ball player ... we're building into stuff like that.
"The main thing in my position is you've just got to have a go at it. You can't stand back."
The main thing in my position is you've just got to have a go at it.
- Jack Wighton
His halves partner Williams said kicking was an aspect Wighton had worked on since making the move during the pre-season.
Now he's able to combine a booming left boot, which saw him earn a game-changing 40-20 in the win over the Brisbane Broncos last weekend, with the deft little kicks in behind the defensive line.
Wighton's also bolstered the Raiders' own defensive line.
His 189-centimetre, 93-kilogram frame makes him the biggest five-eighth in the NRL.
"He works really hard on his kicking game, Jacko, and he is really growing in confidence in his ability to kick the footy," Williams said.
"He is a natural footballer, Jacko. He loves playing tough and loves playing with aggression. But he has certainly got those finer points to his game as well.
"He is only going to get better, it's only early in the season, but he is going to keep growing."
There was some great footage on social media of Wighton playing bocce with a fan after the Broncos win.
Stuart said that was the Wighton he knew, rather than the one who had the "brain snap" to end up in court.
But Wighton was only one of a number of Raiders players who were giving back to the community.
"These blokes are so good for our community. I don't know if the community understands how much we care about the community," Stuart said.
"There was the poor young girl [Bella] who passed away the other day.
"Some of the stuff that has been done behind the scenes for the family as friends of the young girl - it's a credit to be involved with."
NRL ROUND SEVEN
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval, 2pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Jack Murchie. Reserves: 18. Aidan Sezer, 19. Bailey Simonsson, 20. JJ Collins, 21. Hudson Young.
Manly squad: 1. Brendan Elliot, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Brad Parker, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Kane Elgey, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8. Toafofoa Sipley, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Joel Thompson, 12. Curtis Sironen, 13. Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14. Manase Fainu, 15. Jack Gosiewski, 16. Corey Waddell, 17. Morgan Boyle. Reserves: 18. Kelepi Tanginoa, 19. Sam Smith, 20. Lachlan Croker, 21. Taniela Paseka.