Manly forward Anthony Watmough says winning a NSW jersey would be more of a nod of approval for his NRL club rather than anything he has done this year.

Blues selector Laurie Daley has confirmed Watmough is in the mix to make just his second State of Origin appearance, along with Penrith's Trent Waterhouse and Canberra giant Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, when the NSW team is named on Monday.

But while the Test backrower admits he has been thinking about Origin selection after missing out on the series opener in Melbourne, he said it has been his team's return to form which has propelled him back into the limelight.

"I would be lying if I said it wasn't at the front of my mind," Watmough told AAP.

"It's disappointing not to make it the first time but there's still a couple of games to go.

"I have no idea (about selection). The other guys have been going pretty well too.

"Just as a team we've been going well and if I get noticed and I get selected it's a credit to the way the team has played, not just me."

But Watmough's stats suggest he should be a shoo-in for a Blues pack already missing Gold Coast enforcer Luke Bailey (arm) and Penrith utility Luke Lewis (toe).

Going into Saturday's match against Penrith at CUA Stadium, Watmough was the league's top tackle-breaker with 75 from 12 matches and was averaging 124 metres a game.

The 25-year-old added another 162 metres in the 20-6 win over the Panthers, breaking through nine tackles and scoring the Sea Eagles' last try for good measure with a typical run off halfback Matt Orford's shoulder.

But Watmough said he was just happy the team had claimed their fourth win from five games to have them sitting near the top eight despite a horror start to the year where they lost four straight.

"The good thing about us is we're a solid group of dudes and we all stick together and that's the great thing about this club," Watmough said.

"We knew as soon as we stopped doing the stupid little things in our game we'd start putting some points on teams and we can make a run at it.

"The boys are certainly sticking together and that's a credit to Dessie (coach Des Hasler) and the boys behind the scenes.

"We're not far out of the eight now and that's where we wanted to be and we know if we get another two points next week and build some momentum we're going to be a force.

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