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Jack Wighton will spend the first three games of South Sydney’s 2024 campaign on the sideline after being found guilty of biting.
Wighton, who unsuccessfully argued that Tyson Gamble made the on-field allegation in a bid to swing Sunday’s elimination final Newcastle’s way, was given a three-week suspension at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night after leaving teeth marks on Gamble’s forearm in his last game for Canberra.
The Rabbitohs-bound star said pressure applied by Gamble to his mouth was the sole cause of the marks – and that “not at one stage did I bite down” – but his protests were dismissed by the judiciary panel after an 80-minute hearing.
Kangaroos Test coach Mal Meninga tendered a character reference for Wighton, claiming the bite was “out of character” as the NRL argued for a four-week suspension.
Wighton delivered a fiery response to NRL counsel Patrick Knowles at one point, asking “how many games of rugby league have you played?” in response to questioning about the interpretation of “extreme pressure” being applied in a tackle that left Gamble’s forearm covering Wighton’s mouth.
The outburst – which came via zoom alongside Raiders CEO Don Furner – prompted a strong rebuke by NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew.
Tyson Gamble’s forearm after the alleged bite.Credit: Fox Sports
Bellew also cautioned panel members Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins against speculating on questions of Gamble’s intention in making his on-field complaint, as suggested by Wighton’s defence counsel Nick Ghabar.
“Canberra was leading by 20 points. Bear in mind this was the opposition’s best player,” Ghabar said.
“Whether it was a sin bin or send off, he was seeking to gain an advantage.”
The Wighton camp’s suggestions were effectively dismissed by Bellew, as was the inference that Gamble’s refusal to provide a submission undermined the NRL’s case.
Given Wighton retired from representative rugby league earlier this year, any suspension is set to be served at club-level. It will delay the start of his playing career at South Sydney, where he has signed a four-year deal worth more than $3 million.
The suggestion of Wighton making himself available again for rep duties has gathered momentum in rugby league circles since Sunday.
A request for Australia’s end-of-season Test campaign to be included in his ban would need to be approved by Bellew. He told this masthead after the hearing that any official application – which could also include a potential NRL All Stars clash – would be considered on its merits.
Wighton maintained he did not bite Gamble throughout proceedings.
“As I was going to ground, he’s wrapped his arm around my head with extreme pressure … he was squeezing my head,” Wighton said.
“That explains why there’s teeth marks there but there was definitely no biting … His arm was just literally jammed in mouth. There was nothing I could do at all.”
Knowles pointed to photos of Gamble’s arm and Ashley Klein’s referee report that identified “one set of teeth marks”.
“Mere pressure applied to the mouth wouldn’t create a mark like that,” Knowles said. “Common sense will tell you that a mark like that is made by intention to bite down.”
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