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Reagan Campbell-Gillard beat a jaw injury to return to the NRL for Penrith's run to the finals, but it was the mental side of things he found far tougher.

Penrith prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard has revealed the mental struggle he endured coming back from a broken jaw earlier this year, claiming he was "rubbish" on return.

Campbell-Gillard was forced to undergo surgery and temporarily left on a straw diet when his jaw bore the brunt of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves shoulder in a legal hit in June.

The 25-year-old missed NSW's State of Origin success after playing Game I, but recovered in time for Penrith's run into the finals before being selected in Mal Meninga's Kangaroos squad.

However he said the biggest battle was regaining his confidence following the hit, as he admitted it remained in the back of his mind on his return.

"I didn't tell anyone that I had it in the back of my mind, but I probably did," Campbell-Gillard told reporters in Auckland.

"It showed in he three games where I thought I was absolute rubbish. I wasn't up to my standard of football I like to play.

"There were obviously people there I spoke to. I won't lie, they were concerned about it and I didn't think I had an issue but looking back on the games I played there was something wrong there.

"But I'm over it now."

Given that, Campbell-Gillard admitted he had not expected to retain his spot in the Australian squad after having played in last year's World Cup campaign.

Even after being selected to tour New Zealand though it's unlikely he will get a game, after again being named in the reserves for Saturday's clash with Tonga.

"I was already trying to plan a holiday to get away and I got a phone call about it," Campbell-Gillard said.

"I'm always thankful and privileged for getting picked ... Just to be in this environment is special and an honour."

Fellow Panther Tyrone Peachey - who is a reserve alongside Campbell-Gillard on tour- praised his teammate for being so open on the issue.

"I suppose we all got our little problems that we have to deal with and for him to come out and tell everyone in the team and the media now is massive," Peachey said.

"I don't think many people would have the guts to tell the team or tell the media."