Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese appears set to be a Raider for life after signing a five-year extension to his contract on Friday.

The new deal, the longest in the NRL club's history, caps a big week for Campese after he made his State of Origin debut for NSW on Wednesday in Melbourne.

With a year still remaining on his existing contract, Campese has now locked in a six-year deal, keeping him in the nation's capital until the end of 2015.

And the 24-year-old, born in Queanbeyan, says he is only too happy to commit his future to the club he has grown up with.

"It's just where I want to be and it'll be good to get the club back to where it was," he said.

"This is where I want to stay and this is where I want to finish my football.

"It's where I was born and who I've loved all my life so (there's) no better place to be."

Campese said "a few little things went out there" about possibly switching clubs but that he'd never truly considered leaving the Raiders.

He also said he had consulted with his uncle, Wallabies legend David Campese, before committing to the new deal.

Raiders coach David Furner said securing the services of Campese for the next six seasons was a massive boost.

"I wanted him here as part of the team, he's in a very important position," he said.

"When you're looking to go forward and become a top four side you need to put things in place. It's very exciting for Queanbeyan and Canberra to have Campo on board for such a lengthy contract."

The club's previous longest contract was a five-year deal offered to Raiders icon Mal Meninga in 1987.

Furner said Todd Carney being sacked by the club last year had opened up an opportunity for Campese to become one of the Raiders' key players.

It was an opportunity he seized with a breakthrough 2008 which ended with him making his Kangaroos debut in last year's World Cup.

"Last year was a situation where we lost our halfback and I thought Campo stood up and he earned a position there in the World Cup squad," Furner said.

"When you're looking at the character that we've got in our side, Campo is one of those guys that wants to win at all costs and they're the sort of players that you want to have in your team.

"I think in the past we've had Laurie Daley on long-term contracts, Ricky Stuart, we've had a lot of players there that we've identified as the leaders of the club, so it didn't surprise me (the contract length), I think it's good, I think it's comfortable for all parties."

Campese's signing is the second major recruitment move by the Raiders this week, with second rower Tom Learoyd-Lahrs signing a two-year deal on Tuesday.

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