The money spent on Wighton could've gone towards signing a fast outside back and a middle forward. Or sign a halfback.
At the moment, Souths lack direction from a number seven, lack of speed out wide and a lack of aggression in the forward pack.
Demetriou's days look numbered.
They chased Dom Young and then backtracked saying they didn't have the cap space. Then we magically do and signed Wighton...
DEAL THAT BROKE BURGESS-BUNNIES
Phil Rothfield - September 12, 2023
Mario’s Italian restaurant at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast is normally packed with families and holiday-makers in January.
It’s not often you’d find Rabbitohs legend Sam Burgess there with two player agents, a wealthy businessman/third-party sponsor, plus Newcastle winger Dominic Young.
It became the dinner that would trigger the serious tension and falling out between Burgess and Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou that led to the former superstar recently walking out on the club.
The finer details are fascinating.
Burgess was on holiday on the Gold Coast when Souths paid the airfare for the English winger and try-scoring machine to join him for dinner.
Player managers Mario Tartak and Michael Cincotta, who look after Young, were there.
So too was Burgess and Young, plus a man known as ‘the art dealer’ – wealthy Souths fan Steve Nasteski, who has a history of financially supporting the club’s recruitment.
Burgess desperately wanted his fellow Englishman at Souths.
Young had just had an outstanding World Cup for England, scoring nine tries in four games.
All parties walked away confident a deal would be done.
As Young was weighing up his future at the Knights, Souths suddenly dropped off.
Burgess was overruled by Demetriou, football general manager Mark Ellison and CEO Blake Solly.
Their cap money had been used to extend Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook and they needed cap space to re-sign Tom Burgess and extend Cameron Murray.
Plus the Rabbitohs already had Alex Johnston, who is likely to break Ken Irvine’s all-time try-scoring record next season, on one wing. They also have high hopes that 18-year-old Indigenous star and local junior Tyrone Munro will emerge next year as one of the NRL’s best wingers.
So Burgess was not happy – and hasn’t been since.
Young ended up accepting an offer to join Souths’ bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters.