While Papalii was the only Raider picked for State of Origin I, the Roosters will be without five of their starting 13 including co-captain Boyd Cordner and playmaker Mitchell Pearce at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

Papalii said the upset loss to Newcastle in round 10 had hurt the Green Machine and he felt their come-from-behind victory over the Parramatta Eels on Saturday was a new beginning.

It was the same round as when the Raiders started their charge to the NRL preliminary final last season going into the Origin period.

They won 13 of their last 14 home-and-away games to climb to second on the NRL ladder.

Papalii hoped they could replicate a similar run this year as well.

"Hopefully that [the Eels win] was the start to something special. The loss to Newcastle really hurt us, with them being a really young team and us with a lot of experience," he said.

"Going to Newcastle and losing like that, Eels was a must-win. We just need to focus on ourselves.

"We know where we went wrong against Newcastle and also the Eels game as well."

Papalii's the only Raiders player picked for Origin I, in Queensland's second row, with NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley set to overlook his former club yet again.

The Roosters on the other hand will be without five of their starting 13 that has guided them to fourth on the ladder and one of the premiership favourites.

They've not only lost Pearce and Cordner, but also starting prop Dylan Napa, forward Aidan Guerra and outside back Blake Ferguson as well.

But Tapine was wary of a Roosters outfit that will be filled with players trying to hold their spot when their Origin stars return.

"With people leaving [for Origin] for the Roosters there's always those young guys who are going to try and step up and make their mark," he said.

"I've got no doubt the Roosters will field a good squad no matter how many people are out.

"The boys have got to turn up, every NRL team comes out firing so we'll prepare as best as we can and take that on.

"They're good players and they will be missed, but I reckon they'll still be strong without them."

With Papalii out for the Roosters clash, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart will have big shoes to fill on his left edge with either Sia Soliola or Joe Tapine most likely to shift from the middle.

Tapine filled in for Papalii against the Canterbury Bulldogs, but the 23-year-old felt he was better suited to playing in his now more usual role either at lock or in the front row.

While he was relishing playing alongside Raiders behemoth props Junior Paulo and Shannon Boyd, he admitted it made him a target when the opposition had the ball given he wasn't as big as either of those two.

"When Pap's away it depends on 'Stick' [Stuart] what he picks, but I like it in the middle," Tapine said.

"It depends on where 'Stick' wants me - if I go out there [on the edge] I'll go out there for the boys, but if not I'll just do the job where I can."

NRL ROUND 12

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Canberra Stadium, 4pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.