Canberra Raiders big bopper Josh Papalii backs Jack Wighton to bounce back from his hot-and-cold game against Parramatta and thinks State of Origin will help him do it.
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The pair are expected to be picked on Monday for the Origin decider at ANZ Stadium next Wednesday - for Queensland and NSW respectively.
Wighton was excellent for the Blues in their Origin II win a week ago, but had a mixed bag in the Raiders' shock 22-16 loss to the Eels in Darwin on Saturday night.
He scored a smart try out of dummy half, made a big break that led to Sebastian Kris's try and his kicking game was outstanding.
But he also made a string of costly errors in the second half as the Raiders tried to stay in and then save the game.
He put his hand up afterwards and said he had to "take a lot of the blame" for the loss - even though it wasn't all his fault.
Plus they also looked most likely to score when he had the ball.
Papalii expected Wighton to bounce back quickly.
"He's just got to leave that game in Darwin now. I'd say he'll be picked in the NSW team and he'll be looking forward to that," he said.
If the duo are picked they'll head into Origin camp on Monday with the series on the line.
Papalii, who has played 14 Origins for Queensland, expected being back in that elite environment would also help Wighton.
"I don't think he'll dwell too much on [Saturday night]. He tried his best and some things pulled off for him and some things didn't," Papalii said.
"I've played with Jack for 130-140 games and I know what kind of player Jack is and he's definitely one that can bounce back."
Former Melbourne Storm star Billy Slater said while Wighton made a few errors, if it wasn't for him they probably wouldn't have been in such a dominant position to start with.
The Raiders got off to a fast start and led 16-0 in the 32nd minute.
When they were chasing the game late in the second half, Wighton forced a goal-line drop-out with a great kick and chase - only to then be ruled to have knocked on fielding the restart.
"He did have a few moments towards the back end of the game, but he certainly got them in that position to win that game," Slater said on Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
"And he looked the likely source to win it for them if they were going to get away with the chocolates at the end."
The fourth-placed Raiders have the bye in round 16, which means they have to wait two weeks for their chance at redemption - against St George Illawarra (10th) in Wollongong on July 14.