An English international,[2][3] Country New South Wales and NRL All Stars representative, his positions were lock, second-row and prop.

By 2005 he had cemented his place in the team and played from the interchange bench in the Tigers' 30–16 victory in the 2005 NRL grand final over the North Queensland Cowboys.

As NRL Premiers Wests faced Super League champions Bradford Bulls in the 2006 World Club Challenge.

[5] He was selected to play in the 2008 Country Origin side as well as the Prime Minister's XIII team which visited Papua New Guinea.

[7] Before the start of the 2011 season, Ricky Stuart named Heighington in a "Blues in Waiting" squad, for potential future NSW State of Origin players.

[10] Described by team-mate Benji Marshall as, "the heart and soul of Wests Tigers on and off the field,"[11] the club controversially released him after failing to make the semi-finals in 2012.

[13][14] In round 1 of the 2013 NRL season, Heighington made his club début for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks against the Gold Coast Titans playing off the interchange bench in the 12-10 win at Remondis Stadium.

In an effort to motivate his 2016 Sharks teammates to win their first premiership, Heighington bet them his foreskin: he promised to subject himself to being circumcised if his team won.

[17] In round 1 of the 2018 season, Heighington made his début for Newcastle in their 19-18 golden point extra-time win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.