Cool it Campo, warns Shillington
Canberra co-captain Terry Campese has been warned to cool it with referees or risk the Raiders' burgeoning NRL finals chances.
Campese's rocky relationship with whistleblower Ben Cummins was on show again in last Saturday's 24-22 qualifying final victory over Penrith, in which the playmaker had a brilliant individual effort controversially disallowed by video ref Russell Smith.
As amicable as any player off the field, it's Campese's team-mates who are reminding him to stay calm on it.
"I don't think he's got the best relationship with a few referees," Raiders and Test prop David Shillington told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday.
"(He's had) a few troubles with poor old Ben Cummins, they've had a few run-ins but hopefully that doesn't come against us.
"He's very passionate, Campo, he cares about winning I think more than anyone I've seen.
"Sometimes he probably speaks up a little bit too much to other players or to refs but everyone understands why he does it and we respect him for it."
Campese's leadership qualities mean he will co-captain the Raiders in Friday night's sold out elimination semi-final against the Wests Tigers when regular skipper Alan Tongue returns to the bench from a calf injury.
"Campo does some brilliant individual things on the field, on the weekend he made three line breaks, scored a try, got another one disallowed," Shillington said.
"But the last few weeks he's also developed into a great leader on the field and a great director.
"We've got a couple of young hookers ... he's standing behind the plays and directing them and telling them which options to take."
Travis Waddell shapes as the unlucky Canberra forward to make way for Tongue in the Canberra Stadium blockbuster after coach David Furner named an extended bench.
"I think Tonguey will play," Shillington said.
"Direction and leadership, Tonguey's great with that, he drives the training sessions a lot during the week and you know on the weekend he's going to give a hundred per cent.
"It may mean someone like Travis Waddell is going to miss out which would be a big shame because when he plays for us he does a great job, he's a big hitter and he's got good service out of dummy half."
The Raiders announced the re-signing of starting hooker Glen Buttriss on Wednesday for the 2011 season.
"It's been a long tome coming and it's good to get it off my shoulders and concentrate on the game this weekend," he said.
"I'm just glad I've got it done now and if I can come out next year at the start of the season and play well, I can hopefully sign longer after that."
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