Call for Canberra Raiders to match Jack Wighton's energy

Whitehead says they can't leave it to Wighton to set the tone against the Parramatta Eels in Darwin on Saturday.

Wighton did his recovery in Perth with the Blues on Monday after he was part of their demolition job on the Queensland Maroons to level the series.

He'll then fly directly to Darwin with Maroons prop Josh Papalii to join their Raiders teammates to do the captain's run there.

Wighton was part of a dominant NSW backline who were never troubled by their opponents.

He ran for 151 metres, had a try assist on one of Josh Addo-Carr's two tries, made three tackle busts and had one line-break assist.

The 26-year-old silenced the doubters who questioned whether he'd be able to handle the return to centre after a five-year absence from the role.

While Wighton will be buzzing, Whitehead called for the rest of the Green Machine to match that energy.

"He had a great performance and he'll take a lot of confidence out of that," Whitehead said.

"He'll come back bouncing into our group. But we need to have that energy ourself this week and he needs to feel that coming in here.

"We can't go off his energy, we've got to build our own.

"That will be our main focus, building our energy and then 'Papa' and Jack will come back and fit in with us.

"That's what we'll be focusing on this week."

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

Raiders halfback Aidan Sezer knows Wighton will slot seamlessly back into the halves alongside him.

He saw the way Wighton played after making his Origin debut in the series opener, where he came off the bench in the Blues' 18-14 loss to the Maroons.

Wighton was excellent in the Raiders' 28-0 victory over the Wests Tigers at Parramatta Stadium just two days after Origin I.

This time he's coming back a winner and an emphatic one at that.

Wighton's been a revelation at five-eighth this NRL season, having made the switch from fullback.

It's why Blues coach Brad Fittler brought him into the squad.

With doubt over whether Nathan Cleary's ankle will be ready for Origin III, Wighton could even come into the mix to join James Maloney in the halves.

"You saw after game one when Jacko came back against the Tigers he was one of our best players again and he really leads by example with his defence and his aggression," Sezer said.

"I thought he was good in that left centre spot [Sunday] night.

"He's a natural footballer and I think Jacko can slot in wherever they put him.

"It was good to see him play well and get his first win in Origin."

The Raiders are looking for their fourth straight win in the NRL and go in having already beaten the Eels 19-0 at Canberra Stadium back in round five.

NRL ROUND 15

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels at Darwin, 7.35pm.