Canberra Raiders winger Jordan Rapana believes Joey Leilua was right to express frustration over his NSW snub, and is hopeful it won't affect his selection chances for State of Origin III in Sydney.
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But Rapana, who has forged a lethal right-edge partnership dubbed "Leipana" with the centre, insisted Leilua is right to feel aggrieved.
"Yeah he should have [been picked for Origin II], I think he should have been in there," Rapana said.
"I think he'll come close to playing this next one but he's probably more focused on playing well here, getting us into the top eight and playing finals footy."
Leilua shouldn't have any trouble lifting against his former side Newcastle at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
The 24-year-old moved to Canberra midway through last year but was blocked from playing the Knights due to a contract clause.
He missed the third round golden point draw at Newcastle through suspension, and has had to wait over a year for a first crack at his old teammates.
"He'll be looking forward to it, I didn't realise he hadn't played them so he'll be fired up," Rapana said.
"Hopefully I can hold my width and get a few tries outside him."
Rapana has representative goals of his own, eyeing a maiden New Zealand jumper against Australia in Perth on October 15, and the Four Nations series in England later that month.
The 26-year-old was overlooked for New Zealand's 16-0 loss to Australia this year despite being one of the NRL's form wingers.
"It's still a goal, but I want to earn that jersey rather than it be given so I have to make sure I do everything right here and the rest will take care of itself," he said.
The form of former Knights Leilua and Joe Tapine at Canberra must be agonising for Knights fans to watch.
Leilua is finally starting to realise his huge potential while Tapine has established himself as one of the most skillful young forwards in the game.
Raiders forward Papalii said their lucky late escape in Newcastle to secure a premiership would ensure they won't dismiss the Knights as an easy kill.
He backed Leilua and Tapine to add more misery to the Knights' horror season.
"We haven't spoken too much about it but no doubt if you're playing your former club, you do want to win and play well," Papalii said.
"Those two are in pretty good form at the moment and obviously we need them to bring that form Sunday as well."
Former Raider Mitchell Barnett joined the Knights three weeks ago after he was granted an early release, and Papalii said they're wary the back-rower will return to the capital wanting to prove a point.
"Barnes was here for a couple of years and he played a couple of NRL games, he's a strong country boy and shows that out on the field as well," Papalii said.
"He doesn't take a backward step to anyone and we've seen that when he was here.
"We have to shut him down and against his former club he'll want to play well."
SUNDAY
NRL round 17: Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights at Canberra Stadium, 2pm
Tickets: Available from Ticketek
TV: Live on Fox Sports 1
