Canberra Raiders forward Josh Papalii believes Queensland Origin players have a right to feel let down by eight emerging Origin players who broke a curfew during a camp on the Gold Coast earlier this month.

The eight players – including Papalii's Raiders teammate Edrick Lee – disobeyed new coach Kevin Walters' orders and went out drinking.

Papalii, who has played four Origins, agreed with Queensland captain Cameron Smith's call that the players involved showed a lack of respect to Walters.

"They're all grown men now," Papalii said on Thursday.

"I don't really take any thought to that, but I guess the older boys were a bit disappointed with the younger boys going out during the week when they're at camp."

While Papalii hoped to retain his spot in the Queensland side for their Origin defence, he admitted to being more focused on keeping his spot in the Raiders starting team.

The side has recruited English international second-rower Elliott Whitehead, and Papalii said pre-season training had been intense.

"To be honest, at the moment I'm just focusing pre-season, and getting through that.

"I'm not trying to look too ahead of myself, not trying to put myself in any team at the moment. Just trying to make our team [the Raiders] first.

"That's a tough gig at the moment, with the way the boys are training."

But Papalii wasn't disappointed to miss last weekend's Auckland Nines, despite missing an opportunity to impress coaching staff.

"Look, I'm not a massive fan of the Nines anyway," he said. "The Nines is not my go, my focus at the moment is to make the 13 team and hopefully I can do that."

After missing the finals series in the past three years, Papalii and new recruit Jeff Lima said the side had made a deliberate effort to focus on consistency in 2016. The two players were at Canberra Hospital on Thursday, spending time in the paediatrics ward.

"I remember the first time I came in, we almost picked up the wooden spoon. You know, we've been to the finals, we've almost picked up the wooden spoon a couple of times," Papalii said.

"We've spoken about it as a team as well. After a good win, we can also get smashed the week after and that's something we're trying to change."

Lima hoped his experience could be a contributing factor to a more successful year for the team.

"I got a lot of experience from past teams in previous years," he said.

"They [the Raiders] fell short last year and hopefully what I can give them this year will help them get where we want to get to."

The Raiders play their one and only trial against the Newcastle Knights on Saturday, February 20 in Orange. Knights marquee recruit Trent Hodkinson is expected to play.