RCG feeling blue over Origin but vows to rise again

Reagan Campbell-Gillard concedes his mixed form is likely to cost him his Blues jersey for the series opener on June 5 but the Penrith prop is determined not to join the ranks of one-hit wonders at Origin level.

The 25-year-old has endured a challenging 12-month period since bursting onto the rep scene in Brad Fittler's new-look side for last year's Origin opener - won 22-12 by NSW.

A broken jaw suffered against the Roosters in between Origin I and II last year ruled the prop out for the remainder of the series and he has struggled to hit the same heights in the opening seven rounds of 2019.

Campbell-Gillard was replaced by Cronulla's Matt Prior for Game II, while his cousin, Tariq Sims, came in for the final game of the series.

Also in the engine room mix for the Blues are Paul Vaughan, David Klemmer and Jordan McLean.

"You don't want to be a 'FOG', a former Origin great [at 25]," Campbell-Gillard said on Tuesday.

"A few of the [Penrith] boys call each other a FOG. It's more a joke. It's driving me to play a few more games.

"I was over the moon last year playing one game before injury came in. It would be nice to play again but my performances haven't been where I want them to be.

"There's three or four weeks left so I've got to knuckle down and see what happens. I've got to back my own performance and be more consistent."

Campbell-Gillard, who has been relegated to the Panthers bench for the past two weeks, is honest when asked how he rates his own form to start the year.

"Rocks and diamonds, I won't sugar coat it," Campbell-Gillard said.

"It's more frustrating because you hold standards of how you want to play and I can't make excuses.

"When you're winning it helps but when you're losing it's a pain in the arse. If you look back at the start of the season we've shot ourselves in the foot with just defending and that takes it out of you.

"I'm not trying to make excuses for my own performances but it's just a lack of the bounce going our way and one of those things."

The former Fijian international made a determined start to turning things around against the Rabbitohs last Friday with 125 metres and 19 tackles in 44 minutes off the bench.

Campbell-Gillard isn't the only Panther under the Blues Origin microscope, with halves James Maloney and Nathan Cleary also the subject of plenty of discussion.

An improved performance against the Rabbitohs was a step in the right direction for the playmakers and Campbell-Gillard knows exactly what is needed to sielnce the doubters.

"I thought on the weekend it was a positive sign, you get the mojo back a bit and can hold your head high," Campbell-Gillard said.

"It was definitely a big step to the previous performances I've had in the last few weeks. You've just got to stay confident and back your ability."

Campbell-Gillard will again come off the bench against the Raiders in Wagga on Saturday with coach Cleary naming the same 17 as last week.