Mitch Barnett is just thankful "someone talked some sense" into him and he decided to come along for the ride.

The 21-year-old Wingham product is the latest young forward off the Raiders production line after his eye-catching debut in Monday's 20-18 loss to Wests Tigers.

He showed enough to suggest he can emulate teammates Shannon Boyd, Paul Vaughan and Josh Papalii and establish himself as a first grade regular.

Since coach Ricky Stuart took over last season the Raiders pack has undergone a massive transformation.

Former representative props Brett White (retired) and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Melbourne) have moved on, while Dane Tilse was released from his contract mid-season to join Hull KR.

David Shillington (Gold Coast Titans) will soon follow his fellow veterans out the exit door after this year, but the succession plan looks strong.

Vaughan and Boyd were both outstanding against the Tigers, while Queensland coach Mal Meninga has lauded Papalii's form as the best of his career.

Barnett ran for 122 metres and made 25 tackles without a miss in 53 minutes, his performance highlighted by his willingness to run tough lines.

However his debut may not have happened had he succumbed to homesickness last season.

"At the end of last year I started to get a bit homesick and I was all but moving back home, I had the bags packed and everything," he said.

"I was calling it quits but JB [football manager John Bonasera] and the welfare staff said just go home.

"I cleared my head came back down and decided to give it a really good crack, and here I am today.

"Thank god someone talked sense into me, I'd be kicking myself if I had given up, but I'm here today and I want to stay here."

Originally named on the bench, Barnett was thrown into the starting line-up by Stuart and justified the move.

"I found it a bit tough early on, the speed of the game was really fast but the boys talked me through it," Barnett said.

"We just couldn't hold the ball and they got over the top of us in the end.

"I just wanted to do my job for the team and that was taking those tough carries and running those lines.

"The main thing was defence, just holding my inside shoulder and not missing any tackles.

"Papa [Papalii] is only young and played his 100th [against Tigers], Boyd and Vaughan are still only young and we've got some experience in the front row.

It's a good mixture, we'll all be better for this game tonight, we'll learn a lesson."

Veteran Raiders prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala described Barnett's debut as "outstanding" and backed him to be a long term fixture.

"I thought he was outstanding, the way he handled himself and the way he played," Nuuausala said.

"Hopefully we'll see him get a few more games [this year], I think he'll be a future player for us."