Terry Campese
Campese playing for the Raiders in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Terry Campese
Nickname	Campo
Born	4 August 1984 (1984-08-04) (age 25)
	Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	101 kg (15 st 13 lb)
Playing information
Position	Five-eighth
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2004–	Canberra Raiders	69	17	96	1	261
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2008	Australia	1	0	0	0	0
2008	Prime Minister's XIII
2009	New South Wales	1	0	0	0	0
2009	Country Origin	1	0	0	0	0
Source: NRL Stats

Terry Campese (born 4 August 1984 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer, of Italian descent^[1] 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.

[edit] Biography

Campese grew up playing both league 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.^[2]

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 2/3rds 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.^[3] 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. Even though he is contracted until the end of 2010 Campese has been courted by many NRL and Super League clubs, although as a Queanbeyan boy his preference is to stay in Canberra. When he signs his new deal it will be on significantly upgraded terms to reflect his status as an Australian International.^[4]

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.

[edit] Representative career

Campese earned selection in the Prime Minister's XIII^[5] and was subsequently named in the Australia squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.^[6]

He was selected for Country in the City vs Country match on 8 May 2009.^[7]

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.^[8]

[edit] Career highlights

• First Grade Debut: 2004 - Round 2 vs Penrith Panthers at Canberra Stadium, 19 March

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Terry Campese NRL Player Profile

This rugby league biography relating to an Australian born in the 1980s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e