In town for a Raiders reunion, Meninga would have been impressed watching Papalii's display in Canberra's 60-6 thrashing of Wests Tigers on Saturday.

By Papalii's own admission he was overweight, slow and deserved to lose his green and gold jersey last year

But after putting on a show against the Tigers, the back-rower's hiatus cold be over.

The 23-year-old fronted Raiders pre-season training last year out of shape and was shifted to prop as a result by coach Ricky Stuart.

He eventually moved back to the edge after regaining fitness and won back his Queensland Origin jersey in Origin III with a purple patch of form.

Papalii started training earlier than the rest of the Raiders squad this year and is reaping the rewards with the best start to a season of his career.

He started at prop in Australia's 22-18 loss to New Zealand in the 2014 Four Nations final, but back row is where he's most effective.

Former Raiders captain Meninga will coach the Kangaroos for the first time against New Zealand at Hunter Stadium on Friday, May 6.

In Papalii's favour is his ability to play in the middle third, and he has moved to left edge back row this year where Australia has less options.

"I said in the last interview I had I'm not really thinking about that [Australian selection]," Papalii said.

"It's satisfying for myself to finally click, game after game.

"We did have a talk [this week] about the past players and all the legends who wore the jersey before us.

"We didn't want to go to the [post match] function as losers and I'm glad we pulled off a good win.

"I'm just happy with my start this year and hopefully I can keep it going."

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart believes Papalii deserves to represent his country and said his improved off-field approach has been the catalyst.

"I'd love to see Josh represent Australia," Stuart said.

"I think it would be icing on the cake with how he's started the season, because he's been very consistent for us and doing all the little things right off the field too.

"That's what you have to do and he's doing it so well this year, from the first day we turned up to pre-season training he's been very professional and elite in his preparation."

Stuart applied the blowtorch to his forwards after back-to-back heavy defeats to Parramatta and Cronulla, and got the response he was after.

Papalii insisted the Raiders pack didn't feel the heat, but stripped their game back to the basics.

"I don't reckon there was any pressure on us, we had nothing to lose and came out and played our kind of footy," Papalii said.

"We didn't try and overplay our hand and simple footy works for us.

"[I've had] a better start than the last two or three years. I was a bit overweight and a bit slower and I played shit the last two weeks.

"All of a sudden form went down and now I'm back up."

Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin is on track to return from a hamstring injury against Penrith in Bathurst on Saturday, which would be his last chance to impress to keep his City Origin jersey.