LIVE: Ricky’s response to Wighton bombshell

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says he wants Jack Wighton to remain in the nation’s capital, but concedes the decision is out of his control.

Wighton dropped a bombshell this week in revealing he will test the open market rather than activate a $900,000 contract clause with the Raiders for 2024.

Within hours of that news coming out, a number of rival clubs reportedly lodged their interest with his management.

“Jack knows I want him here,” Stuart told media on Thursday.

“That’s the most important thing for me. He knows my feelings about him as a person and as a football player and I want him to be a Raider.

“But that decision is taken out of my hands. That is up to Jack now to make that decision.

“We look after Jack and his family very well here, so I am at ease with it because I know we do everything we possibly can for Jack and his family.”