NARRABRI fullback Matt Panton caps an outstanding representative season with his first international match in Wollongong tonight.
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Panton steps out for the NSW Country Cockatoos against Samoa at WIN Stadium.
"I'm looking forward to it, should be a great game," Panton said yesterday.
"Samoa are a fairly solid outfit – it's going to be a good experience."
Panton has starred at the back for NSW Country this season.
Last weekend the side finished its Telstra Australian Rugby Shield commitments with a 39-12 win over Darwin Mosquitoes in Darwin.
Panton scored two of the Cockatoos' seven tries while Armidale's Francis Fainifo crossed for a hat-trick.
"It was fairly warm up there," Panton said.
"We didn't get to see much of Darwin but the game was good fun.
"We threw it around a fair bit more than we have and the outside backs saw a lot more of the ball.
"I enjoyed that and had my best game yet.
"Frankie went well too.
"They just didn't want to tackle him."
St Albert's College's Luke Brown is also in the Country squad while Scone's Josh Clift starts in the centres.
"We've also heard they are flying Jeff Wilson in as a late replacement too," Panton said.
"That's great for him, he deserves a run."
While delighted to be playing Samoa, Panton is also looking forward to returning to local club rugby with the Blue Boars in the Bayer Central North competition.
"It's been a long rep season and it's started to take its toll on a few players," he said.
"I can't wait to get back to play for Narrabri.
"They've been up and down."
LANDMARK NSW COUNTRY COCKATOOS V
SAMOA
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Kick-off 7.30pm Wednesday
COCKATOOS: 1 Matt MacGregor (Parkes), 2 Chris Comerford (Gosford), 3 Troy Takiari (Easts), 4 Adam Winter (Avoca Beach), 5 Matt Waterford (Bathurst), 6 Darren Dimmock (Maitland), 7 Ross Duncan (Coonamble), 8 Scott Fava (Eastwood), 9 Luke Burgess (Easts), 10 Daniel Drewe (Bowral), 11 Leith Cooper (Shoalhaven), 12 Luke Johnson (Manly), 13 Josh Clift (Scone), 14 Francis Fainifo (Robb College), 15 Matt Panton (Narrabri), 16 Tony Sambell (Newcastle Wanderers), 17 Matt Hoy (Coffs Harbour), 18 Anthony Vrljic (Bowral), 19 Paul Creighton (Wollongong Vikings), 20 Josh Darby (Tech Waratahs), 21 Luke Brown (St Alberts College), 22 Kevin Simpson (Coffs Harbour). Coach - Andrew Cox, assistant coach - Col Jeffs, manager - David Holt
