Campese hoping to catch NSW coach's eye - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Campese hoping to catch NSW coach's eye

By Melissa Woods 26/06/2009 04:33:07 PM Comments (0)

Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese will get a timely opportunity to push for a recall to the embattled NSW Origin squad on Sunday against NSW coach Craig Bellamy's Melbourne NRL side.

Campese could consider himself unlucky to be dropped after his debut Origin match, seemingly made a scapegoat after the entire side delivered a below-par performance in the opening loss in Melbourne.

"I was definitely disappointed not to make the team (for Origin II) but you have to get over it quickly or it will play on your form," the 24-year-old said.

"I've got to focus on playing well for the Raiders and then when it comes back around for Origin III, hopefully my name will be tossed up."

Campese is sure to come into the mix with incumbent Blues five-eighth Trent Barrett suspended for two weeks for a late hit on the Storm's Queensland centre Greg Inglis, which rubbed him out of the game.

In an interview with Storm Radio, which can be heard on the club's website, Campese joked prior to Origin he hoped Inglis and Billy Slater would get injured and miss the Canberra Stadium match.

"Our first half against Storm was one of our better halves of the year but in the second half they came out and blew us off the park," Campese said of their 46-6 loss to Melbourne in round 10.

"Hopefully Billy (Slater) and GI (Greg Inglis) get injured, that would be nice for us."

They proved prophetic with Barrett's actions.

Inglis was cleared of a suspected broken jaw and although he hasn't been ruled out of the Storm squad for the Canberra Stadium match, he is still very unlikely to play.

Inglis said he was still in pain, while Storm medical staff usually take a cautious approach with players who have suffered a head injury.

Slater and fellow Queensland representative Cameron Smith came through the match relatively unscathed while lock Dallas Johnson, who was on a drip after suffering a stomach virus in the lead-up to the Origin, is rated doubtful.

A decision will be made on the players after Melbourne's final training session on Saturday.

The Raiders, who have NSW centre Joel Monaghan backing up, are four points out of the top eight, despite sitting second last on the premiership ladder.

Campese said they hadn't given up on making the finals.

"Our confidence is still up there, but this weekend it doesn't get any easier," he said.

"It's almost a must-win game for us, that's what the focus on."

Anthony Quinn, who is rebuilding his form after a serious head knock in round seven, is likely to replace Inglis in the squad while Aiden Tolman will be called in for Johnson.

But Campese didn't expect the absence of Inglis or Johnson, or the likelihood Test hooker Smith would start from the bench, would make the task of beating the fourth-placed Storm much easier.

"Whoever they put on the park we still have to play," he said.

"They showed after Origin I they can still come out and play when they smashed the Broncos down there."

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