EVEN when he's talking to family, David Campese can't resist being critical. Just hours after his nephew, Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese, became the second Campese to be picked for his country in a footballing code's World Cup, he couldn't resist a shot.

"He just congratulated me, and said he's happy for me … and basically said it's about time I started playing some good footy," Terry Campese laughed yesterday. "It was all in good fun. He was very happy for me. He's very proud of me."

Shocked, no doubt as well. The younger Campese certainly was, having been picked in Australia's World Cup squad just a few months after fearing he would be forced out of Canberra.

As he tried on a darker shade of green yesterday, the 24-year-old said: "I thought I'd be moving out of Queanbeyan, and leaving the Raiders, but I wanted to stay at the club because I love it so much."

The catalyst was an unlikely one; the sacking of halfback Todd Carney. One of Campese's mates he may have been, but Carney's dismissal over repeated misdemeanours allowed the five-eighth to take a greater playmaking responsibility within the team, which was one of the key reasons the Raiders stormed into a surprise sixth place in the regular season.

Perennially ignored in representative selection meetings, the Raiders now have two rep players - Campese and another of his good friends Joel Monaghan, who was in the car with the five-eighth when they were told - almost simultaneously - the news.

Campese will be in camp with two people who used to adorn the walls at his Queanbeyan home: the team's coach, former Canberra halfback Ricky Stuart, and captain, Brisbane five-eighth Darren Lockyer (the only problem being Lockyer's mere presence will likely keep Campese out of the side, at least for the most significant matches of the tournament).

"I used to go to training with my uncle David sometimes just to watch guys like Ricky and [former five-eighth] Laurie Daley," Campese said. "It's unbelievable to be coached by Ricky now. Darren's one of the best players in the world. Just to watch what he does will be a great opportunity. I can't believe I'm in a squad with guys like that.

"I'll learn from all the guys - there's some unbelievable names and great players in the 24-man squad. Hopefully I learn a lot and take it to my club next year."