Accidental centre Wighton justifies Freddy’s faith with strong showing

He ragdolled Gagai almost into touch. He raced out of the line and sat Lindsay Collins on his backside.

Wighton was so quick out of the line and aggressive on another occasion that Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was unsure of what had just happened and lodged a captain’s challenge.

Jack Wighton was a handful at left centre.

Replays showed Wighton collecting Cherry-Evans in the face.

Andrew Johns said in the TV commentary “please”, while Cameron Smith added: “If that’s the NRL, he’s probably penalised for that, but I don’t think that warrants a penalty.”

The Bunker official, Grant Atkins – who was unlucky not to be given the top job on Wednesday night – described the contact from Wighton as “just a touch”.

Wighton was unforgiving in defence and a constant threat in attack. It helped that the Blues started most of their sets on his left side as Queensland targeted his little left-wing partner Brian To’o.

Because of the wowser of a game Wighton was enjoying, the question of just how Fittler would inject Crichton soon dawned on the men in the commentary box.

Would Freddy shift Wighton into the back row? Would he only bring Crichton on if Wighton was required to cover an injury in the halves?

In the end, Crichton got the nod at right centre after Kotoni Staggs suffered a shoulder injury. You have to wonder what would have happened had Staggs stayed on the field.

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The only blight on Wighton’s game was a spilled ball deep in his own half midway through the second half, but he was still bringing the fans to their feet when he tiptoed down the touchline and put the Blues on the attack.

The accidental centre will be eager for the win next start.

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