Jack Wighton jokes he's starting to get a complex. If he gets sin-binned a third time in Melbourne he'll be convinced there's a vendetta against him.
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While one of his goals in the Canberra Raiders' qualifying final against the Melbourne Storm is stay on the park on Saturday, another is to use the Green Machine's return to finals to drive his bid for a Kangaroos jersey.
And he's got a handy backer in his NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler, who labelled him an "automatic selection" for Australia.
Wighton's been given a 10-minute rest in two of his past three games against the Storm in Melbourne.
The first came in the 2016 preliminary final and the second was just four weeks ago in the Raiders' miraculous come-from-behind victory - where they came back from 18-0 despite also having lock Joe Tapine sin binned as well.
Both of Wighton's were for professional fouls and it had the Canberra five-eighth joking he was starting to become mindful of it.
"Every time I go there they send me for a 10-minute rest. If they do it this time they've got a vendetta against me," he laughed.
"Hopefully this time I'm going down there slate clean and they don't send me for 10.
"It's becoming more than a coincidence. It's going to be a goal to get down there and stay on the park and have some fun."
Wighton's been a big reason behind the Raiders' return to the top four.
His switch into the halves alongside Aidan Sezer has been a huge success and he was rewarded with his State of Origin debut.
That's opened the door to the green and gold, with the Kangaroos scheduled to play two Tests at the end of the season.
Wighton admitted the desire to represent his country would help drive his finals campaign.
"I hope so. I'll just play my best footy for the club," the 26-year-old said.
"It's definitely a goal of mine. I'd love to just even be in the squad somewhere and make a dream come true."
His Blues coach Fittler thinks he should be part of Australia coach Mal Meninga's squad.
Wighton would bring plenty of versatility with his selection, having played in the centres for NSW on top of playing fullback and five-eighth for Canberra in recent seasons.
The Kangaroos will play Tests against New Zealand and Tonga when the NRL season's over - plus the Prime Minister's XIII will take on their Fijian counterparts.
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"Absolutely. [The Raiders have] got a month of footy ahead so you don't know what's going to happen, but I couldn't imagine why Jack Wighton wouldn't be an automatic selection," Fittler said.
"He's versatile, the things he did in Origin and the things he's done for Canberra I wouldn't think he'd be too far away.
"I'm a huge fan. If he has one of those days or has a month of good footy then anything can happen.
"He's just so aggressive and his kicking seems on queue at the moment. I like the way he plays."
Fittler was also confident Wighton wouldn't be fazed by his recent track record in Melbourne.
He's witnessed first hand Wighton's ability to put things behind him.
Wighton had a tough Origin debut, throwing an intercept pass that led to a match-turning try for Queensland.
But he went on to play a crucial role in helping the Blues win the series.
His efforts in the series-deciding Origin III came after a tough game for the Raiders against Parramatta in Darwin.
"I watched him in the Northern Territory have one of those games - a bit of brilliance and a bit of crap - and he didn't seem too perturbed," Fittler said.
"It didn't put him off and he came into Origin a week later and absolutely brained it.
"He's got a good way of leaving the past in the past."
Part of Wighton's past was a 10-game ban that ended his 2018 season after he pled guilty to assault.
It makes him the perfect person for Raiders teammate Hudson Young to turn to for advice following his eight-game suspension for eye gouging.
Wighton said that he was there for Young whenever he needed someone to talk to.
"I only give him my support. I've seen a lot of media backlash," Wighton said.
"He's a good kid and obviously he's had a brain explosion.
"It's something that can damage young kids doing something like this. I just give him my support whenever he needs a yarn really."
NRL QUALIFYING FINAL
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Melbourne, 5.40pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Sia Soliola, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Bailey Simonsson, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Ryan Sutton. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Emre Guler, 20. Siliva Havili.
Storm squad: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tui Kamikamica, 16. Max King,17. Joe Stimson. Reserves: 18. Curtis Scott, 19. Tino Faasuamaleaui, 20. Brodie Croft, 21. Tom Eisenhuth.