The fullback returned to form in blistering fashion in Friday's win over Manly. He scored a try, set up two more and produced a potential match-saving tackle on Manly speedster Tom Trbojevic.

But he could be rubbed out of Thursday's showdown with the Broncos in Brisbane after he was charged with contrary conduct – contact with match official – after he touched touch judge Brett Suttor in the 37th minute.

Wighton remonstrated with Sutton after officials took some time to award the Raiders a penalty for a second tackle on Jarrod Croker when he was dragged into touch.

He touched Sutton with his left hand briefly and although it's unknown what Wighton said to Suttor, there appeared to be little malice involved.

The Raiders will decide on Monday whether to fight the charge, and have taken the early guilty plea offered to Shannon Boyd, who will miss a week for a shoulder charge.

There is no doubt fans are utterly confused about what should constitute a charge for touching a referee, with Penrith forward Sam McKendry the only player so far to cop a suspension.

Canterbury prop David Klemmer successfully defended a similar charge at the judiciary, Brisbane's James Roberts and Parramatta's Kieran Foran both avoided bans with early pleas, while Corey Norman, Trent Merrin, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Jamie Soward escaped charges for similar acts.

The judiciary came under fire for its leniency in handing Manly forward Marty Tapou just a one-week ban for his ugly swinging arm which knocked out Cronulla's Jack Bird in round three.

Adam Blair received just one match for his chicken wing tackle on Broncos teammate Sam Thaiday in the Australia-New Zealand Test, while Wests Tigers' Justin Hunt escaped suspension with an early plea after he flattened Bulldogs Moses Mbye with a coat hanger tackle last month.

Several players and coaches have suggest the NRL adopt the AFL's policy of dishing out fines for minor offences, including making contact with match officials.

But Archer insisted all instances are judged according to their circumstances, and said the tough stance is necessary to send a message to grass roots football that officials are sacrosanct.

"I can't comment [on the Wighton incident], it's already before the [match review] committee and he's been charged," Archer said on The Sunday Footy Show.

"There's going to be incidental contact with the referees on the field. On the 10 metres players will collide, moving out of scrums and getting the halfback [back] in defence.

"They're incidental contact and that's not what the match review panel has dealt with this year.

"It's when players are disputing decisions and touching referees, there's a clear line between that.

"The spin-off from that into grass roots football is massive. We're trying to advance respect into games across all levels, for us there's a real clear line."

Losing Wighton for the Broncos clash would be a huge loss for the Raiders, as he had just found confidence against Manly after an error-ridden few weeks.

He was clearly best on ground and if he is suspended he won't play again until June 26 on the Gold Coast given the Raiders have a bye after the Broncos clash.

In-form winger Jordan Rapana would be his likely successor at fullback against Brisbane, while Papua New Guinean rookie Kato Ottio could come into contention for an NRL debut on the wing after strong NSW Cup form.

"It was a relief to put together a game like that, I've made a few errors but I knew it would come," Wighton said after the Manly game.

"My teammates helped a lot [through my bad patch], I'm happy to have these blokes around me and the coaching staff.

"It was good to bag a try, I thought I wouldn't get one after that first one got knocked out [in the first half]."

Wighton was modest when asked about his tackle on noted speedster Trbojevic after he ran him down and tackled him over the sideline from a standing start.

He also pulled off a similar try-saving tackle on Canterbury's Sam Perrett in a 32-20 win the week before.

"I was happy to get him down. I thought he was going to get me on the inside but then he put the burners on and I got there, it turned out alright," Wighton said.

"That's probably the only bit I miss about being in the line is tackling a bit more, but I've got a few lucky opportunities lately and it's turned out pretty good.

"If we pull out that performance [where we faded late] we definitely won't go there [to Brisbane] and win, we need to try and play a full game of footy."