Jack Wighton (left) and Nick Cotric (right) prepare to bring some Raiders’ flair to the NSW Blues. Photo: Supplied.
State of Origin will truly pit mate against mate when Jack Wighton and Nick Cotric come up against teammates Josh Papalii and Dunamis Lui tonight in Adelaide (4 November).
Wighton says it’ll be good to get back out on the field following Canberra’s disappointing semi-final exit at the hands of the Melbourne Storm.
“It is probably better than sitting at home pondering, being able to get back in and get a bit of football action,” Wighton told Region Media.
Despite the Blues heading into game 1 as clear favourites, the 2020 Dally M and 2019 Clive Churchill Medalist says the team is purely focused on the game.
“We don’t look into that kind of stuff. Queensland is a world-class team and we are going to try and we are going to have to be on the money,” he said, explaining that playing with Papalii and Lui all season won’t give the five-eighth any insight into Queensland’s plans for tonight’s game.
Dunamis Lui and Josh Papalii prepare to represent Queensland in the first State of Origin. Photo: Raiders.
“It’s Origin, it’s a different beast. Everyone is different in Origin so we will play it by ear and see what happens on the night,” Wighton said.
“I can’t wait. It’ll be good to take them on.”
This year’s COVID-shortened Origin season, with games on 4, 11 and 18 November, will be the final time Wighton will play on the same side as Cotric for a while after the latter inked a three-year deal with the Canterbury Bulldogs from 2021.
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