Raiders coach Ricky Stuart backs Jack Wighton to become a Kangaroo

Fresh off the back of helping NSW claim a thrilling State of Origin victory, Wighton joined his Raiders teammates in Canberra on Thursday to prepare to face St George Illawarra at Wollongong on Sunday.

Having made his Origin debut this year, it's thrust Wighton's hat into the Kangaroos ring for Australia coach Mal Meninga to consider for the end-of-year Tests against New Zealand and Tonga.

The 26-year-old has made a stunning switch from fullback to the No.6 jersey this season and been a big part in their climb into the top four.

Now, having been part of the Blues' first back-to-back Origin series win since 2005, Stuart said playing for Australia was Wighton's next step.

"I think that'll be his next goal. I think it's very achievable," he said.

Stuart expected both of his Origin players, Wighton and Queensland prop Josh Papalii, to back up against the Dragons.

He said at the end of a gruelling Origin campaign, having the longest break of any of the NRL games would benefit all the Blues and Maroons players - not just Raiders, but Dragons as well.

Stuart has been proud of how Wighton has turned things around in the past 12 months, when he was given his last chance following assault charges in the lead-up to last season.

The Raiders coach said he wasn't surprised with how quickly that's happened and felt Wighton should've been playing representative football sooner.

"I probably expected Jack to be there over the last couple of years," Stuart said.

"I'm always singing his praises and I only do it for one reason - because I know how good he is.

"I often talk to young kids in regards to developing and maturing into football players at NRL level and I often say to them you play your football the way you live your life off the field and Jack's playing his football the way he's living his life off the field now."

In recent years, Papalii has been the Raiders' lone Origin player, but now Wighton and Nick Cotric have joined the club.

Stuart said that would only help the Green Machine's premiership chances.

"To be a successful team in winning competitions, semi-finals, I believe you have to have the experience in big games, you have to have representative players," he said.

"For us to be a force in the competition we have to have successful representative, players who have got experience in big matches and we're starting to grow in that area.

"Having the internationals here from England and Josh and Jack helps our journey."

NRL ROUND 17

Sunday: St George Illawarra Dragons v Canberra Raiders in Wollongong, 6.10pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Nick Cotric, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Corey Horsburgh, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Ryan Sutton, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Michael Oldfield, 20. Royce Hunt, 21. Emre Guler.

Dragons squad: 1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Jonus Pearson, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Timoteo Lafai, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Corey Norman, 7. Darren Nicholls, 8. Jeremy Latimore, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Blake Lawrie, 11. Jacob Host, 12. Tariq Sims, 13. Luciano Leilua. Interchange: 14. Korbin Sims, 15. Reece Robson, 16. Patrick Kaufusi, 17. Josh Kerr, 18. Tristan Sailor, 19. Jason Saab, 20. James Graham, 21. Ben Hunt.