named in the top five best hookers in the world during 1999–2004. He was credited for the evolution of the modern day hooker role during the nineties and noughties by Rugby League media through his captaincy, support play, evasive running, try scoring ability and defensive qualities. Cantillon played for Widnes where he ran up a remarkable tally of 117 tries in five years, playing over 100 consecutive games. Cantillon took out the Tom Bergin Trophy as man of the match in the 2001 Grand Final victory. Cantillon is placed ninth in the all-time list of club try scorers which features many legends from the Widnes cup kings and world champions era of dominance, with the highest ever for a forward. Cantillon was also selected for England for the World Sevens in Australia in 2003, taking them to the final loss against the Parramatta Eels with two tries in a man of the match performance in both the semi-final against Manly and France in the quarter finals. During his five seasons at Widnes, Cantillon broke many try scoring records including a world record for most tries in a season with 48 in 2001 surpassing the legendary and iconic Great Britain captain Ellery Hanley in doing so. He is the only player to have scored five tries in a match more than once, doing so three times in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Cantillon went on to smash the record with a staggering seven in one match, holding the world record for most tries in a match by a forward with seven. He racked up a total of 117 tries from 159 appearances placing him in the top ten all time try scorers for Widnes. Cantillon's try scoring exploits catapulted Widnes back into Super League where they narrowly missed out on the top five. Cantillon broke the world record in 2000 for most tries by a hooker with 30, before yet another try scoring world record breaking season in 2001, where he displayed exceptional leadership and durability in leading the Vikings to success. After several years away, Cantillon returned to Wigan in July 2002 in the runup to the Super League playoffs. Cantillon was named captain of the Ireland national rugby league team in 2003, qualifying for under the grandparent rule after firstly representing England. Ireland enjoyed an outstanding European Nations tournament, finally losing to France in Dublin, with firstly an away win