The Canberra Raiders' preliminary final exit is driving Nick Cotric to complete his unfinished State of Origin business.
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Cotric went into NSW Blues camp on Friday after having a week off following the Raiders' prelim exit at the hands of the Melbourne Storm at Lang Park.
It also signalled the end of the Tuggeranong junior's time in lime green, with the 21-year-old joining the Canterbury Bulldogs on a three-year deal after Origin.
The Storm overran the Raiders in the opening half before going on to win 30-10.
That season ending came a week earlier than Cotric hoped and has lit a fire in his belly ahead of Origin I.
Not to mention the fact he missed the second and third games of the Blues' series win last year due to an ankle injury.
"Yeah definitely a bit of unfinished business," Cotric told The Canberra Times from the Central Coast camp.
"I just want to do the best I can for the Origin team now and play my heart out.
"I've still got that fire in the belly the way we finished [the NRL season] - a bit disappointed and I just want to get out there and play footy."
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Cotric revealed it was an emotional ending to his time with the club he grew up dreaming to play for.
That dream came true in round one of the 2017 NRL season, with the winger only missing a few games since then to end with 93 caps and 46 tries for the Raiders.
He also made his Blues debut in Origin I last year before playing two Tests for Australia.
"It was a good couple of years at the Raiders. The boys helped me heaps and now a different chapter of life so looking forward to going to the Dogs now," Cotric said.
"It was a bit emotional. I'm pretty close to all the boys and the coaching staff.
"Just to end the way we ended was a bit disappointing and it was definitely emotional after the game.
"It's just footy I guess at the end of the day and business is business so I'm just looking forward to the next chapter."
Cotric will face stiff opposition for a spot on the Blues' wing.
Barring injury, Storm flyer Josh Addo-Carr will likely come into the squad to fill the left wing, with Cotric set to potentially fight it out with Sydney Roosters outside back Daniel Tupou for the other.
Cotric scored 14 tries in the 2020 season, while Tupou crossed the stripe 11 times.
The ex-Raider copped a corked shin against the Storm, but he's fully recovered.
"Everyone's training hard and trying to get those spots," he said.
"Just looking forward to going out on the paddock and training with the boys. Just getting out amongst it."
Cotric enjoyed his week out of the NRL bubble, taking the opportunity to catch up with friends and family - something he wasn't able to do due to the Apollo protocols they had to abide by.
But he admitted to feeling like he was doing the wrong thing when he was first allowed out.
"It did at the start, it felt a bit weird," Cotric said.
"I felt like I was doing something wrong, but you're not doing anything wrong you're just having breakfast. It was nice.
"It's been a bit different. You go out into the public to get breaky and what not. It's good to get out of the house for once.
"It was nice to go out with family members and have a feed."
STATE OF ORIGIN
November 4: Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues at Adelaide Oval, 8.10pm.