Terry Campese
Encyclopedia
Terry Campese is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer, of Italian descent for the Canberra Raiders
of the National Rugby League
competition. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative five-eighth, he is also the nephew of rugby union
legend, David Campese
.
and union
and always believed he would follow his uncle David
in the 15-man code. However the advice of Neil Henry
helped persuade him to join the Canberra Raiders
youth set-up and turn down offers from Randwick DRUFC
(where David is a club legend) and the Brumbies Academy.
Campese made his first-grade debut during the 2004 season, appearing 4 times. He made a further 5 appearances in 2005, playing at five-eighth or lock. Injury destroyed his campaign the following year and in 2007 Campese struggled to show consistent form, playing 12 games as Canberra preferred to use Todd Carney
at five-eighth and Michael Dobson at halfback. After Dobson departed 2 games into the 2008 season, Carney shifted to half back and Campese was given an opportunity to stake a claim at five-eighth.
The turning point in the career of Terry Campese came 2/3 of the way into the 2008 season when his halves partner and friend Todd Carney was released for disciplinary reasons. Until now Campese had been contributing to the Raider’s sporadic success but Carney was the dominant playmaker. He stepped into the shoes and with the added responsibility and freedom began a series of dominant displays as memorable as they were devastating. For example, Campese scored 36 points in round 22, 2008 against the Panthers with 10 goals and 4 tries. He had a chance to equal Mal Meninga's
record of 38 points with a simple kick from in front of the goal posts but unknowing at the time halfback Marc Herbert
took the kick. Canberra won the game 74–12. He assumed the goal kicking duties and became the side’s main attacking point as Canberra finished the season second only to Champion’s Manly in point scoring. He finished the season first in line-break assists (25) and 4th in try assists (25), and added 10 tries and 40 goals.
However it was almost not to be for Campese at the Raiders. The club tabled a contract extension in 2008 which was withdrawn as the Raiders attempted to sign Trent Barrett. After Barrett's signing with the Sharks, Campese came back into the frame and signed a 2 year contract extension (after interest from the Melbourne Storm). He began his devastating run of form almost immediately after re-signing. Campese is contracted to Canberra until 2015.
After a strong season in 2008, Campese was voted the best five-eighth of the year and was just three points off winning the Dally M Medal. He was also his club's top point scorer.
In 2009 the Raiders did not make the finals but Campese continue build on his skills and was named in the City vs Country game and State of Origin.
Then in 2010, Campese was named co-captain with Alan Tongue
as Tongue had many injuries during the year and Campese was one of a few senior players. He helped lead the Raiders into the finals at 7th position. Campese lead the Raiders to their first semifinal victory in 10 years with a win over the Penrith Panthers
, but were knocked out a week later to the Tigers. In the Tigers game Campese went off with an injury which would see him out of action for 9 months. He returned in Round 13 2011 against the Cowboys. However, he re-injured himself with a groin injury after an attempted tackle. He will be out of action for the rest of the 2011 season.
and was subsequently named in the Australia squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. Campese played in one game, the group match against PNG. During the first half he suffered an eye injury, which saw him unable to finish the game as well as ruling him out of the rest of the tournament.
He was selected for Country in the City vs Country
match on 8 May 2009.
In May 2009, Campese was named in the 17 man squad to represent New South Wales in the opening State of Origin
match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne.
Campese was dropped after the first game which saw the Blues lose 28–18 and ultimately the series.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer, of Italian descent for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
competition. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative five-eighth, he is also the nephew of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
legend, David Campese
David Campese
David Ian Campese , also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player. Campese was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and held the world record for the most tries in test matches until Daisuke Ohata scored his 65th try playing for Japan on 14 May 2006...
.
Biography
Campese grew up playing both leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and always believed he would follow his uncle David
David Campese
David Ian Campese , also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player. Campese was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and held the world record for the most tries in test matches until Daisuke Ohata scored his 65th try playing for Japan on 14 May 2006...
in the 15-man code. However the advice of Neil Henry
Neil Henry
Neil Henry is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. Since 2009 he has been head coach for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League. Henry previously played for, then coached the Canberra Raiders.Henry was a foundation player of the Raiders,...
helped persuade him to join the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
youth set-up and turn down offers from Randwick DRUFC
Randwick DRUFC
Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club, also known as the Galloping Greens, is an Australian rugby union club which competes in the Sydney grade competition. The club was formed in 1882 and since then has won 31 first grade premierships and seven Australian club championships...
(where David is a club legend) and the Brumbies Academy.
Campese made his first-grade debut during the 2004 season, appearing 4 times. He made a further 5 appearances in 2005, playing at five-eighth or lock. Injury destroyed his campaign the following year and in 2007 Campese struggled to show consistent form, playing 12 games as Canberra preferred to use Todd Carney
Todd Carney
Todd Carney is an Australian professional rugby league football player. Carney has represented Australia, Country New South Wales and, in the National Rugby League, the Canberra Raiders between 2003 and 2008, and the Sydney Roosters between 2010 and 2011...
at five-eighth and Michael Dobson at halfback. After Dobson departed 2 games into the 2008 season, Carney shifted to half back and Campese was given an opportunity to stake a claim at five-eighth.
The turning point in the career of Terry Campese came 2/3 of the way into the 2008 season when his halves partner and friend Todd Carney was released for disciplinary reasons. Until now Campese had been contributing to the Raider’s sporadic success but Carney was the dominant playmaker. He stepped into the shoes and with the added responsibility and freedom began a series of dominant displays as memorable as they were devastating. For example, Campese scored 36 points in round 22, 2008 against the Panthers with 10 goals and 4 tries. He had a chance to equal Mal Meninga's
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
record of 38 points with a simple kick from in front of the goal posts but unknowing at the time halfback Marc Herbert
Marc Herbert
Marc Herbert is a Rugby League player who is now unattached after being released by the Bradford Bulls at the end of the 2011 season. He made his NRL debut in the Round 20 clash vs. the Gold Coast Titans, in place of the suspended Todd Carney...
took the kick. Canberra won the game 74–12. He assumed the goal kicking duties and became the side’s main attacking point as Canberra finished the season second only to Champion’s Manly in point scoring. He finished the season first in line-break assists (25) and 4th in try assists (25), and added 10 tries and 40 goals.
However it was almost not to be for Campese at the Raiders. The club tabled a contract extension in 2008 which was withdrawn as the Raiders attempted to sign Trent Barrett. After Barrett's signing with the Sharks, Campese came back into the frame and signed a 2 year contract extension (after interest from the Melbourne Storm). He began his devastating run of form almost immediately after re-signing. Campese is contracted to Canberra until 2015.
After a strong season in 2008, Campese was voted the best five-eighth of the year and was just three points off winning the Dally M Medal. He was also his club's top point scorer.
In 2009 the Raiders did not make the finals but Campese continue build on his skills and was named in the City vs Country game and State of Origin.
Then in 2010, Campese was named co-captain with Alan Tongue
Alan Tongue
Alan Tongue in is a retired professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s. A Country New South Wales representative forward, he captained of the Canberra Raiders for several seasons in the National Rugby League competition.-Early years:While attending Farrer Memorial Agricultural...
as Tongue had many injuries during the year and Campese was one of a few senior players. He helped lead the Raiders into the finals at 7th position. Campese lead the Raiders to their first semifinal victory in 10 years with a win over the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
, but were knocked out a week later to the Tigers. In the Tigers game Campese went off with an injury which would see him out of action for 9 months. He returned in Round 13 2011 against the Cowboys. However, he re-injured himself with a groin injury after an attempted tackle. He will be out of action for the rest of the 2011 season.
Representative career
Campese earned selection in the Prime Minister's XIIIPrime Minister's XIII
Prime Minister's XIII or the PM's XIII is the name of a representative rugby league team selected on an annual basis by the Prime Minister of Australia that consists of mainly young Australian players drawn from the National Rugby League competition to take on the Papua New Guinea national rugby...
and was subsequently named in the Australia squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. Campese played in one game, the group match against PNG. During the first half he suffered an eye injury, which saw him unable to finish the game as well as ruling him out of the rest of the tournament.
He was selected for Country in the City vs Country
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
match on 8 May 2009.
In May 2009, Campese was named in the 17 man squad to represent New South Wales in the opening State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne.
Campese was dropped after the first game which saw the Blues lose 28–18 and ultimately the series.
Career highlights
- First Grade Debut: 2004 – Round 2 vs Penrith PanthersPenrith PanthersThe Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
at Canberra StadiumCanberra StadiumCanberra Stadium is a facility primarily used for rugby league and rugby union games, located adjacent to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the capital of Australia...
, 19 March - State of Origin Debut: 2009 – Game One vs Queensland at Etihad Stadium, 3 June