- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
I think it’s time for Canberra to bite the bullet and move on veteran five-eighth Terry Campese.
Campo has been ineffectual for the Raiders this year, and it is clear that the wear and tear on his troublesome knee has taken its toll.
It is always hard to push a club stalwart into the background but Campese is a realist. He must know he is operating on borrowed time.
In desperate straits after just nine rounds, Canberra cannot afford to field a player less than 100 per cent fit. I think it’s time for coach Ricky Stuart to tap Campese on the shoulder.
At the start of last year, I was trying to return from knee surgery with the Bulldogs. Despite my best intentions, my body would not and could not do what I was asking of it.
It was a tough decision but I didn’t want to hold anyone back and decided that instant retirement was my best option. Campese has been a tremendous player and servant of the Canberra club, but I honestly believe he has done all he can for the Raiders’ cause.
He should be used as a mentor for the young halves coming through the system at Canberra. Mitch Cornish is a brilliant prospect from their National Youth Competition team and I think he is ready for a shot at the big time.
I’d like to see Josh McCrone given a place in the starting team, Anthony Milford should be moved closer to the action at five-eighth, while Jack Wighton is best suited at centre.
The dangerous Reece Robinson was a huge hit at fullback last year and I’d like to see him switched back there in a bid to spark the Raiders’ attack.
Canberra have been thrashed in their last two outings and big changes are needed in personnel and attitude if they are to salvage their season.
The team’s defence has to be addressed more than anything. Some of the attempted tackles and poor defensive reads in the last two games against Manly and New Zealand would be savaged at schoolboy level. Defence is an attitude and the Raiders need to get plenty of it and fast.
I have never been coached by Stuart and I’m not familiar with his methods, but it seems obvious that what he is doing is failing miserably.
The coach and the entire NRL team should be taking a long, hard look at themselves. There is still time to avert total disaster in 2014, but it is running out quickly.
They have a chance to stop the rot against Penrith in Canberra on Sunday. I am hoping that they do.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.