QUEENSLAND Country hero Mark Cantoni has put his hand up for Residents selection after his three-try effort in Saturday's 32-28 rugby league victory over City in Ipswich.
The veteran Northern Pride second-rower faces a nervous wait this morning ahead of today's announcement of the Queensland Residents side to take on their NSW counterparts in a curtain-raiser to the third State of Origin clash.
Cantoni yesterday did not want to take anything for granted, but hoped his hat-trick and solid all-round performance would result in his first Queensland Residents jersey.
"It was good to get the win and good to be in the right place at the right time to score the tries," he said.
"We had some great ball-players, so it was good to play outside them."
Country was lucky to hold out City after leading 26-6 early in the second half. Cantoni said the team had done well to combine so effectively as a unit after only going into camp together last Tuesday.
He said playing for Residents in front of a big Suncorp Stadium crowd on July 15 would be a huge buzz.
"If I get picked, it would be good to run out on to Suncorp Stadium before an Origin game," he said.
"It's such a big occasion, so it would be good to be a part of it."
Cantoni said his Pride teammates Tom Humble, Joel Riethmuller and Rod Jensen had also played strongly in Country's victory, and hoped that form would transfer to the Pride’s Queensland Cup campaign.
"Hopefully, the boys will continue their good form for the rest of the year," he said.
"We need to turn things around after losses in our last two games."
Northern Pride coach Andrew Dunemann, who also guided the Country side to victory, agreed his club players had performed strongly and believed more than one would be named in the Residents squad.
"They all put their hands up for a spot in the representative team," he said. "I was really pleased for Mark Cantoni who does that week-in, week-out for the Pride and doesn't always get the credit he deserves."
Dunemann said he had enjoyed his experience at the helm for Country and that the team had gelled together well.
"I loved it as much as the boys did," he said. "It’s something I'd love to do in the future."
Country 32 (Mark Cantoni 3, Rod Jensen, Ian Lacey, Tom Humble tries, Brad Davis 4 goals) d City 28 (Alwyn Simpson, Jason Moon, Luke Dalziel Don, Shea Moylan, James Stuart tries, Matt Smith 4 goals) at Seery Oval, Ipswich Brothers.
