JACK Wighton is channelling Taylor Swift - when he makes a blue, he shakes it off.
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He credits his ability to forget errors and "just get on with it" for his outstanding progression to five-eighth after delivering a best-on-field display in Saturday's 30-12 win over Penrith at Wagga.
Wighton set up his own try and his attacking kicking game was first class as he spearheaded Canberra to a 6-2 record to start the season.
The 26-year-old exudes confidence when asked about his transition from fullback this year, a far cry from 2014 when his move to the halves was aborted after nine rounds.
This time around he's more comfortable in his skin. He wants to own the results of games.
Coach Ricky Stuart rated his transition "as good as anybody I've seen from someone coming from an outside back position."
It's high praise when you consider Laurie Daley moved from centre to five eighth to join Stuart in the Raiders halves during their glory days, forming one of the great partnerships.
"I got chucked in a few years ago when I didn't have a pre-season under my belt. I've had a few years in grade, I feel like a different person," Wighton said.
Wighton said he no longer dwells on mistakes and let it affect his game, as he has done at times in the past.
"You've just got to stay confident. It's going to go wrong at some point but you just bounce back, get back on board and go again.
"The best in the game make mistakes week-in, week-out, it's what you do after it. Obviously you want to minimise mistakes but when they happen, moving on is the key point.
"When you're a bit younger, you can let it rattle you."
Wighton's attacking kicking game has improved markedly the last month as he and Stuart gradually add weapons to his game.
He played within himself in the early rounds but is now ready to take games on.
"We started off basic and now we're starting to build on it," Wighton said.
"I put in extra hours (of kicking) every week and it's paying off.
"I've now got a chance to turn a game through my defence and I'm trying to utilise that, too."
Stuart said he is impressed by Wighton's desire to be more assertive in games and put his team on his back.
"The thing that impresses me with Jack is he keeps asking for more," Stuart said.
"The first five or six rounds I was holding him back and not giving him anything, just wanting him to think about the little things in his game.
"Jack's handling five-eighth, the transition into the halves role as good as anybody I've seen come from an outside back position.
"We speak about Darren Lockyer and his transition (from fullback to five-eighth) was fluent because he's a very skilful player, so is Jack."
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