Canberra Raiders centre Jack Wighton has rocketed into NSW State of Origin calculations, with coach Laurie Daley declaring the young gun ready for rugby league's biggest stage next month.
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Injuries to Michael Jennings and Will Hopoate have opened the door for Wighton to be catapulted into the Blues' line-up as NSW aims for aseries clean sweep in Origin III in Brisbane on July 14.
Jennings is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks with a torn back muscle, while Hopoate played through the pain of a shoulder problem.
Wighton spent a week with the Blues in camp at Coffs Harbour before their drought-breaking series win on Wednesday night, which ended Queensland's eight-year stranglehold on the Origin trophy.
Daley said Wighton, 21, was made for the Origin arena and admitted he was in contention for a call-up.
"We believe Jack's an Origin player, when that may be I'm not sure," Daley said.
"We got him into camp to give him a taste and hopefully when he gets that opportunity, he knows what the expectations are to be a part of it. He may get an opportunity this year, he may not.
"He's just a natural talent, he's tough and Origin is about having tough people."
Daley was in Canberra on Friday night for the Raiders' 20-year premiership reunion, celebrating the club's 1994 title.
Daley urged Raiders fans to be patient and backed Ricky Stuart as the man to "rebuild" the club.
"I think they are starting to rebuild and I think Ricky understands that," Daley said.
"While [Stuart] is a great competitor and he gets frustrated, he understands that. I think it's a rebuilding phase at the moment, but Ricky is the right man for it.
"He will make the tough decisions for the club, change doesn't happen overnight. People just need to be patient and supportive, and if they do that they'll be rewarded in the end."