Canberra Raiders young gun Nick Cotric set to miss Origin II but could be back for Dragons

Scans on Friday revealed Cotric suffered a minor syndesmosis injury, but his ankle wasn't fractured.

It's better news than what the Raiders first feared when Sharks forward Wade Graham accidentally trod on the 20-year-old's ankle while tackling him in the 68^th minute of the 22-20 victory over Cronulla on Thursday night.

It looked awful, but Cotric was able to get to his feet and limp off.

He'll miss the NSW Blues' do-or-die Origin II in Perth Sunday week and will also miss the Raiders' clash against Parramatta in Darwin a week later.

But he could be back in time to face the Dragons in round 17.

In good news for the Raiders, emerging prop Corey Horsburgh (elbow) could join co-captain Josh Hodgson (thumb) as an inclusion to face the Eels.

Given the Raiders' heavy injury toll, the news will come as a relief for Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.

He gave the squad the weekend off and they'll return to training on Tuesday.

The Raiders have had Hodgson, Joe Tapine, Jordan Rapana, John Bateman, Joey Leilua, Aidan Sezer, Corey Horsburgh and Michael Oldfield all miss games this season due to injury, while Hudson Young is currently serving a five-game suspension.

It's why Stuart's taking a no-risk attitude towards players going on representative duty.

He's always supported representative football, but won't let anyone with any sort of problem play next weekend when there's three Tests on as well as Origin.

Cotric will miss Origin, but both Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii will be fit for their respective states if picked.

Wighton looks likely to retain his Blues jersey, potentially as the utility, although he has been seriously considered to play five-eighth.

Papalii will slot straight into Queensland's front row.

Jordan Rapana and Joe Tapine have been named in the New Zealand squad for their Test against Tonga in Auckland Saturday week.

But both might miss out.

Rapana sounded like a definite withdrawal having missed five games this season due to shoulder, rib and knee injuries.

He's still getting over the latter.

"It's always an honour to get named and to play for your country, but for me I haven't had the best run of injuries this year and I'm just trying to string some games [together]," Rapana said.

"The knee's still not 100 per cent so I just want to try and get it right for the club and play well here first before getting ahead of myself."

Tapine sounded more positive, but still could be a withdrawal as he's yet to return to match fitness.

He's had thumb and ankle problems that have sidelined him for seven games this campaign.

The 25-year-old has managed to string together the past four games and he ran for 114 metres against the Sharks.

"I knew I needed a couple of weeks just to get back into the groove," Tapine said.

"The first couple of games I was blowing at the end, but just to get my legs again and start getting a touch of the footy is good.

"I'll get a couple of checks on a couple of injuries. It's been a tough year. I've just got to get them checked first and hopefully I'm good.

"Just my thumb, the stuff that's been niggling for awhile, and my ankle's not 100 per cent.

"I'll get them checked and see what the physios say."

Raiders hooker Siliva Havili was named in the Tonga squad, but he's been carrying a foot injury the past few weeks.

He's a crucial player for the Raiders with Hodgson on the sidelines. He can fill in at dummy-half as well as play lock.

"I pulled up pretty good from the game. I'm looking good," Havili said.

"It's been sore since the Bulldogs, but it's been good. It's troubled me after the games, but other than that during the week it's usually good."

There's also an international double-header at Leichhardt Oval, with Fiji playing Lebanon and Samoa taking on Papua New Guinea.

Raiders prop Dunamis Lui has been one of the Raiders' quiet achievers this season and could be in the mix for Samoa.