Canberra playmaker Jack Wighton wants to assure Raiders fans he and teammates were hurting badly after last weekend's 54-18 hammering by the Manly Sea Eagles, regretful for a post on social media that has irritated some supporters.

Reacting to negativity online about his selection in the centres for NSW Country, Wighton confronted his "haters" by posting on Instagram after Sunday's loss: "One week they love you. Next week they hate you. Both weeks I got paid."

Wighton has been selected in the centres for the NSW Country Origin side.

Wighton deleted the post that night and was cautioned by the Raiders about reacting to criticism, but Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says he's taking a "big picture" approach and will continue to back to the 21-year-old in his positional switch to five-eighth.

Wighton has been under enormous scrutiny since his shift from the outside backs to the halves, a role he hasn't played regularly since Raiders Under 20s three years ago.