Campese needs flying to start to season
A name that once incited all kinds of emotions at Ballymore will be back in action on Saturday night with Canberra playmaker Terry Campese calling the shots in an NRL pre-season trial against Brisbane.
Campese's famous uncle, legendary NSW and Wallaby winger David Campese, used to both thrill and frustrate rugby union fans with his genius and occasional brain explosions at the Brisbane ground.
He appeared in more than 100 Tests for Australia in the 1980s and early 1990s and was voted player of the 1991 rugby World Cup, scoring nine tries with his exaggerated "goosestep" move.
"I watched my uncle play here for many years and I played here (Ballymore) as a schoolboy as well," said Campese as Canberra wrapped up preparations for their clash with the Broncos on Friday morning.
Brisbane have been forced to make a late change to its pack, losing prop Nick Kenny to an ankle injury suffered at training on Thursday.
Kenny's injury has given Melbourne signing Scott Anderson a chance to impress, starting alongside Ashton Sims with Michael Spence coming onto the bench.
"I've rolled it (ankle) a few times before and I'm hoping it's just an irritation of some old scar tissue," said Kenny on Friday.
Canberra coach David Furner has delayed a final decision on injured Indigenous All Stars duo Joel Thompson and Travis Waddell but Alan Tongue is almost certain to play after undergoing off-season wrist surgery.
With a likely log-jam for the NSW no.6 Origin jumper this year, Campese needs a flying start to the season to keep his name up alongside Trent Barrett, Kurt Gidley and Greg Bird, back in the NRL with the Titans after playing most of last season in exile in France.
Queanbeyan-born Campese, who played for Australia (2008) before he played for NSW (2009), has had limited representative opportunities.
He broke into Origin in the first game in Melbourne last year before losing his No.6 jumper.
"You try not to think about those things (representative selection) so early in the season," said Campese.
"You play the best you can for your club and the higher up the ladder you are, the more chance they (selectors) look at you."
The reality is, if Campese wants another shot at Origin, he'll need to hit the ground running with so much competition ahead of him.
He will be spared going up against Brisbane skipper Darren Lockyer, who has been rested to get over a small biceps tear suffered in the All Star clash a week ago.
"It's always a good match-up, I've played against him a few times and I wish he was playing," said Campese.
Former Broncos skipper Gorden Tallis came out during the week tipping huge things from 21 year-old Raiders' back-rower Joel Thompson, describing him as a human torpedo in defence.
"You'll see him first hand tomorrow night," said Campese when asked about the former junior Kangaroo who has modelled his defence around the toughest rival he has faced in the NRL, Tonie Carroll.
Raiders team: Josh Dugan, Reece Robinson, Jarrod Croker, Joel Monaghan, Daniel Vidot, Terry Campese, Marc Herbert, Dane Tilse, Alan Tongue (C), Scott Logan, Danny Galea, Bronson Harrison, Josh Miller. Interchange: Josh Mccrone, Joel Thompson, Troy Thompson, David Shillington, Trevor Thurling, Glen Buttriss, Shaun Fensom, Sam Mataora, Drury Low.
Broncos team: Corey Norman, Denan Kemp, Israel Folau, Alex Glenn, Steve Michaels, Ben Hunt, Tim Smith, Scott Anderson, Andrew McCullough, Ashton Sims, Lagi Setu, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Ben Teo, Josh McGuire, Gerard Beale, Matt Gillett, Michael Spence.
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