Canberra coach Ricky Stuart insists captain Terry Campese has not played his last game for the Raiders despite the NRL club granting a last-minute request for an extra month’s leave.
Barring Four Nations Test squad members Josh Papalii and Josh Hodgson, Campese was the only player on the club’s roster not to show up for day one of pre-season training on Wednesday.
The Raiders confirmed that Campese had requested an extra month off through his manager Jim Banaghan on Tuesday.
Earlier this year Campese skipped the club’s presentation dinner without notice after he was dropped to the NSW Cup for the final month of the 2014 season.
His latest no-show puts a big question mark over whether he’ll ever be seen in the lime green again – let alone retain the club’s captaincy.
However Stuart was at pains to play down the significance of Campese’s request on Wednesday.
“He’s got a contract here. So I don’t think it’s going to be his last game,” Stuart said.
“Terry knows best – he’s a very experienced player. There’s no dramas there.
“I haven’t even thought about the captaincy side of it. I will at the right time.”
Stuart denied he was disappointed by Campese’s decision, adding that the club’s CEO Don Furner had gone to great lengths to check on his welfare.
“No. I’m not disappointed. It would be different if it was Terry’s first, second or third year,” Stuart said.
It’s understood Campese returned from Cancun in Mexico with a group of Raiders teammates just recently.
Jarrod Croker, who went on the overseas holiday, admitted he was shocked when told of Campese’s request.
“Yeah I was, I haven’t spoken to him. I’ll give him a ring and see him,” Croker said.
“I’m sure he would be in a difficult head space, but he’s one of the toughest blokes I know.”
Croker also backed his good mate to fight his way back into the NRL – despite hot competition from Blake Austin, Mitch Cornish, Sam Williams, Josh McCrone and Jack Wighton in the Raiders’ halves in 2015.
“I’m confident he can do whatever he wants to do,” Croker said.
Campese has one year left on a five-year contract.
Furner said the month of leave would not affect his contract – pointing to Campese’s service to the club over the past decade.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Why would he retire? 500K is a lot of money for playing a year in reserves. It's not like that money will come around again.
Benedict Arnold
Guest
For the money campese is on, he certainly doesn't deserve it. Yeah, I said it. You can't just get by on reputation forever, you have to actually perform.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
I expect Campo to announce his retirement within the next few weeks. His only other option is to stop moping and train his butt off. He really got a bad deal having his Super League move denied by the club.
MJB
Guest
This is ridiculous. Just pay him out already.