Terry Campese deserves a crack at Blues captaincy

Roar Guru

By Alan Nicolea, 23 Mar 2010 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru

Tagged:: Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, NRL, Rugby League, Terry Campese

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During the second half of a very tense tussle between the Canberra Raiders and Brisbane Broncos, the Green MKachine had to produce one of their more courageous defensive displays in recent memory to carve out a 22-14 win.

With an 18-nil score line in Canberra’s favour, the Broncos continued the early season trend of comebacks in the NRL by scoring three unanswered tries in the second half to close the gap to four points.

Despite having to make 80 more tackles than their opposition, the Raiders eventually got the two competition points thanks largely to the brilliant effort of Raiders captain Terry Campese.

Although Raiders debutant Shane Fensom stole the show in defence for Canberra with 49 tackles, rarely do we see an attacking dynamo such as Campese end up making 41 tackles, one of which stopped Sam Thaiday from scoring a critical try in the second half.

Campese’s showing was a testament to his capabilities as an NRL first grader let alone a representative player. With the ball in hand Campese can rub shoulders with the very best playmakers in the game and then some.

Whilst most ball players are often somewhat of a liability in defence, Campese, along with Alan Tongue, can act as a cornerstone for a Raiders defence that often struggles to keep the opposition at bay.

His effort on Monday night showcased all the traits necessary to not only warrant a re-call to the NSW Origin side, but to captain them against the Maroons when the series begins on May 26.

With players as young as Mitchell Pearce now being considered as a candidate for the Blues Origin captaincy, one believes Terry Campese has displayed more consistent form and leadership than his Roosters counterpart, and thus should be considered as a prime candidate to lead his State.

Dropped harshly by Blues selectors following NSW’s loss in game one last season, it appears Campese must lead the Raiders to the top of the table to have any chance of regaining his Blues jersey.

Its astonishing to think that the selectors went as far as dropping Campese, only to replace him with Sharks captain Trent Barrett, who is still leading a toothless Cronulla side with an inability to score points.

In the end, Campese can only do so much on the field and it will ultimately be up to the selectors again to pick a team capable of ending Queensland’s four year reign.

With last year’s captain Kurt Gidley not even expected to start for NSW this season, the selectors will have a difficult task picking a new leader to hopefully guide the Blues to their first Origin series victory in five seasons.

If the selectors could just cast their eyes beyond the Sydney border, they will discover a more than worthy NSW captain quietly plying his trade down at the nation’s capital.

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The Crowd Says (24) | Page 1 of Comments

Tinnie said | March 23rd 2010 @ 10:13am | Report comment

Completely agree with your most of assessment there, many of the wrong players were crucified for the first two games and too many many were wrongly praised for the dead rubber victory. IMHO i think Kimmorley would be a great captain, but i think Campese is a great shout if he gets the opportunity. Both players lift when they’re needed, both can get players to rally behind them and both players lead by example with great tenacity.

I say that with a big IF he gets the opportunity, Blues selections over the last few years have been shocking and at times confusing to say the least.

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sledgeross said | March 23rd 2010 @ 10:29am | Report comment

Great to read you talking about the footy again Alan.

I seriously think Paul Gallen is an option, provided he can “keep clean” until the SOO.

I also think that while Campese is a good option, you probably dont want a dominant half to play beside him. Campese plays first receiver alot of the time, and when he doesnt have his hand on the ball often, he tends to go missing and wander in and out of games

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Axe said | March 23rd 2010 @ 10:32am | Report comment

I would think that by the time SOO begins Greg Bird would have played his way into the Blues No 6 Jersey.

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JP said | March 23rd 2010 @ 10:42am | Report comment

I only read the headline and that was enough for me …. fair dinkum !
No to campese.

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Frank O'Keeffe said | March 23rd 2010 @ 10:42am | Report comment

Campese made 41 tackles? Wow he must be a great defender like his uncle.

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LK said | March 23rd 2010 @ 10:42am | Report comment

He won’t get selected again whilst Martina is NSW coach. Which is a great pity.

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alan nicolea said | March 23rd 2010 @ 10:58am | Report comment

sledgegross

Whilst Gallen to me seems to be the frontrunner for the captaincy, his ill discipline at times can really knock a team back and it does not bode well for leading your state IMO.

Axe – I just don’t think Bird is the answer at no.6. He could play a great role coming off the bench but i feel Campese would be a far better option in particular with the ball in hand.

JP – Who would you put as captain then considering last years leader might not even get a starting spot this season?

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- JP said | March 23rd 2010 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
  
  I wanted hindmarsh to be captain last year but it seems the selectors are to stubborn to admit when they are wrong.
  
  This year is a little more difficult, I would look to the future and give it to someone they could build a team around. I have no doubt Bird will be back in the side somewhere. Carney is a possability but he wont be fullback that spot is for Hayne. Ennis will and should be hooker. Pearce is a real chance if he maintains his current form. And for all his knockers out there Watmough will be a starting backrower for sure. There is no doubting his impact in last years series.
  
  I cannot see a position for campese with all the above mentioned players. Plus all the fringe players that will miss out Farah, Gidley (yes Gidley will miss out) not to mention all the backrowers etc.
  
  I would give the captaincy to Bird, Ennis or Hayne.
  (put aside Birds history off the field he was a solid player in origin)
  
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M1tch said | March 23rd 2010 @ 11:35am | Report comment

Who’s your halfback alan>?

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Springs said | March 23rd 2010 @ 11:36am | Report comment

Hindmarsh should be captain if he does not retire from rep footy. He should have been last year and should be again this year.

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alan nicolea said | March 23rd 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment

Springs

Indeed Hindmarsh woud make a terrific captain. If the eels keep rising up the ladder, there is no reason why he cannot be picked for NSW, let alone lead the Blues.

Mitch – It would either be Jarrod Mullen or Mitchell Pearce on current form IMO. I think if Pearce can improve on the stuff Brian Smith mentioned in the press conference yesterday against quality opposition, then he is every chance. The same can be said about Mullen. Of course one cannot rule out the likes of Kimmorley and Barrett but it seems that NSW must look to the future and persist with a side capable of dominating Origin for the next few seasons let alone winning it this year.

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- Springs said | March 23rd 2010 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
  
  Just on the ‘side for the future’ reasons the selectors are using at the moment. They cannot possibly be thinking of dominating the next few series, I mean how far into the future do they mean? Inglis, Folau, Thurston, Smith etc are all going to be around for a fair while yet and if they really thought the game 1 side last year was for the future instead of focusing on the upcoming game they are fools. No way will that side ever be better than the QLD game 1 side, which they will have for a fair while yet (minus Lockyer, Civoniceva etc of course).
  
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