Canberra Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton jumping into season in bid to do things by halves

That was only Jack Wighton 1.0. Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has been modelling version 2.0. Representative five-eighth Wighton.

"I've spoke a bit to Jack over the off-season about going to another lever," Stuart said.

"Personally I think Jack will become and is ready to become a representative five-eighth.

"That's a little goal that we've got and it's something that he's most definitely taken on board after that performance tonight."

That performance? The Gold Coast Titans had barely finished their warm up when he'd scored his first try.

They were still coming out of the line-up to honour the firies when he was over again.

Geez Jack Wighton's running game looked good.

There was still the usual occasional error, but his kicking game has gone to the next level.

He produced a 40-20 in the first half with a piercing, low kick that any AFL full forward would've loved to get on the end of.

And then showed a deft foot to force a goal-line dropout as well. Just how big a year can he have? Clive Churchill big? Bigger? That's the plan.

It didn't take long for the Raiders to show just how malleable they are.

Corey Horsburgh was expected to start in the second row, but Stuart felt Joe Tapine was a better horse for the Titans course so he was back in his preferred role at lock.

And he shone. Punching out 61 minutes and running for more than one hundred metres. Offloading a treat too.

Then there was the fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad going off for a head-injury assessment in the first half.

No dramas losing one of the best fullbacks in the NRL - who looked good in the first half as well.

Just slot Bailey Simonsson back there. Bring Michael Oldfield off the bench to play on the left wing - having spent the past few weeks training at right centre as cover incase Curtis Scott wasn't allowed to play.

"Scottric" - Scott plus his wingman Nick Cotric - showed signs they could become a very dangerous right edge.

Scott fitted straight into the hard-carries-out-of-yardage ethos and also combined with Cotric for a brilliant run that almost ended in a George Williams try.

How many weeks will the coronavirus have crowds shut down for starting from Monday? Will the Raiders be able to travel to New Zealand?

Will the Warriors be able to return to New Zealand? Will Eden Park be empty? Or will it be packed because it's a Super Rugby game?

No one knows.