'I'll take it with both hands': Canberra Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton to start for NSW Blues in State of Origin game III

But that will have to take a backseat as Brad Fittler turns to brand new halves pairing to deliver a series whitewash.

The Canberra Raiders five-eighth will partner Parramatta playmaker Mitchell Moses in game three on July 14 after Penrith duo Nathan Cleary [shoulder] and Jarome Luai [knee] were ruled out through injury.

Wighton has been used as a utility player during the opening two games but will join the starting line-up as the Blues look to become the first NSW team in 21 years to pull off a clean sweep.

Question marks hover over the venue for the final instalment of the series, with Newcastle on standby to host the showdown should Stadium Australia be deemed unsuitable amid Sydney's COVID-19 outbreak.

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A rise into the NSW No. 6 jersey will cap off an epic roller coaster ride for the NRL's reigning Dally M medallist.

The highs of an Origin series victory and the birth of his third child have been intersected by a nightmare run at NRL level with the Raiders.

Canberra are picking up the pieces of a 38-point thrashing on home soil at the hands of the Gold Coast, with Wighton adamant his primary concern on the footballing front is turning things around for the Raiders.

"I'll let this one soak in and get over it a little bit. Whatever arises, I'll take it with both hands and run with it," Wighton said after the loss to the Titans.

"That's the way I'm going to approach things. We've just got to let it soak in and get back on the horse.

"It's been busy. I still count my blessings. I'm very blessed, and I've had a couple of big weeks. It's been a lot of fun, but I definitely want to get here right.

"It's going to be a long year if we don't get this right, because this is the bread and butter, this is home, this is where my main focus is, trying to get this right."

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has put his troops on notice leading into Thursday night's clash with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval.

Stuart says his side needs an injection of energy and "the only way to find energy is with some new faces", potentially opening the door for a team makeover with Wighton and Josh Papalii to miss out through Origin.

"It's a hard one, as you've seen all year we play one half. Today we didn't even play one half," Wighton said.

"We were very flat, and including myself, didn't create much opportunity or take the game by the scruff. Very disappointing, probably not up to our level by a long shot. Not many words for it."

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