Hey Presto! Titans have a super-sub - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hey Presto! Titans have a super-sub

Jim Morton 03/11/2010 06:24:06 PM Comments (0)

A plan to convert Preston Campbell into a super-sub will see the veteran Titans fullback shun thoughts of retirement and play on in 2011.

And Campbell, excited about "catapulting" himself into a 14th NRL season with a return to the Indigenous All-Stars in February, believes the move could even see him go around again in 2012.

The 33-year-old livewire had suggested his body was struggling to cope with the rigours of the game after the Gold Coast were knocked out of the NRL finals by the Sydney Roosters on September 24.

But after being encouraged to stick around by Titans chief executive Michael Searle and coach John Cartwright, Campbell believes he will thrive in a new interchange role which would allow speedster William Zillman to take over at fullback.

The 167cm, 75kg dynamo - who can play halfback, five-eighth and hooker as well as No.1 - also said his war wounds had recovered much faster than expected.

"It (the body) is healing a lot quicker than what I thought, this time last year I was a mess," he said on Wednesday.

"I will come off the bench a lot more next season which I'm very happy with.

"It's going to give me a chance to prolong my career, I could even go on again the next season. (But) we'll get through this season first.

"It will mix it up and throw it up to opposition teams who won't know where I'll be playing."

The architect of the All-Stars concept, Campbell was honoured to have his hand print, appearing alongside those of Aboriginal greats Arthur Beetson and Lionel Morgan, on the new Indigenous jersey for the February 12 clash.

Morgan was the first indigenous man to play Test rugby league while Immortal Beetson was the first to captain Australia.

The largely bronze-coloured jersey, designed by former Broncos and Penrith utility Sid Domic, also features boomerangs shaped as a V under the collar.

"It's very humbling and a little bit embarrassing as well," Campbell said.

"But to have my hand print on there I'm very proud of that.

"Artie was a bit embarrassed that a smaller bloke had a bigger hand print.

"I'm hoping this All-Stars game will be a bit of a catapult to go into the season."

Already more than 20,000 tickets have been sold for the NRL season-opener, the second annual All-Stars clash at Skilled Park.

Campbell had rated the inaugural match, won the by his Indigenous side, as a highlight of his career.

"I did say the first game would be hard to top and I will stick to that, but we did have the likes of Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges pull out (injured), while Billy Slater pulled out at the last minute and Dave Taylor," he said.

"These guys are superstars of the game so if we can get those boys on board it will definitely equal it this season."

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