It's more than a chance to atone for last year's shock State of Origin loss.
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It's a chance for NSW Blues utility Jack Wighton to recharge before trying to get the Canberra Raiders' NRL season back on track.
Wighton's vowed to fill whatever role Blues coach Brad Fittler wants him to do in the series opener in Townsville on Wednesday night.
The 28-year-old was named in the No.14 jersey, with Fittler opting for Jarome Luai to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves.
For Wighton, NSW Origin camp was also a chance to "get a good vibe" off his Blues teammates to bring back to Canberra.
The Raiders were in a form slump, winning just one of their past eight games to drop to 14th on the NRL ladder.
They've especially struggled in the second halves, as well as at holding onto leads.
Wighton hoped Origin would prove a tonic to help right the Raiders ship.
"It's not about putting the Raiders problems behind me, but I'm definitely using it to recharge and get a good vibe off all the other boys," he said.
"We're all here on the same kind of task. It'll definitely be good to recharge the batteries and then get back into it when I get back to my Raiders boys."
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With the Raiders having a bye this weekend, a lot of Wighton's teammates have taken a break from football - some heading to Tasmania, some to the Gold Coast.
Wighton hoped they'd also come back refreshed when the Green Machine faces the Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
He said the feeling amongst the playing group had remained fairly positive despite their tough time on the field.
Wighton said it was the whole squad's job to turn things around and not just him and new halves partner Sam Williams.
Williams has filled the No.7 jersey after the Raiders released homesick halfback George Williams.
Wighton was still struggling to pinpoint why their performances dropped off after the opening 30 minutes.
"It's not too bad mate. There's a little bit going on, but we're very blessed to have a good bunch of boys, they're an exceptional bunch of boys," Wighton said.
"What's happened has happened, we can't change that, but what we can change is what's coming forward. That's what we're looking forward to doing."
Wighton's versatility makes him an ideal No.14 - he can play in the halves, fullback, in the outside backs and has been flagged as an option to play in the second row on the left edge.
He was preparing himself to be ready for wherever Fittler needed him - even if that meant going up against the big boppers in the middle.
"Get in there and mix it up mate, she'll be right," Wighton laughed.
"That's the way I'm looking at it - anything the team needs me to do I'm going to be up to do that."
STATE OF ORIGIN I
Wednesday: Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues at Townsville, 8.10pm.