Reds fullback Jock Campbell re-signed on eve of landmark honour against Lions

The Reds have moved to re-sign fullback Jock Campbell on the eve of a landmark honour for Queensland.

A commerce graduate, Jock Campbell chose the University of Queensland for his re-signing photos. It is a symbol of the hard work he put in at club level as a premiership-winner in 2017, the first of three club titles, to kick start his opportunities at becoming Queensland Red #1339.Picture: QRU Media/ Erick Lucero.

The Reds have moved to re-sign fullback Jock Campbell on the eve of a landmark honour for Queensland.

Campbell, 30, will captain Queensland in Wednesday night’s blockbuster bout against the British and Irish Lions at a packed Suncorp Stadium.

It is the venue that the elusive fullback has called home for a grand 93-game career that will now extend into 2026 with a fresh one-year contract.

“It’s definitely a good spot to be. A lot of the boys are sticking around and we play a good brand of rugby that keeps improving and makes footy fun,” Campbell said.

He said a more personal goal is also a big driver for this next step in his career.

“I’m getting close to 100 games for Queensland. That mark has been a big factor in my considerations. It would be something special with the names you see on that list,” Campbell said.

Campbell has scored 24 tries for Queensland but been involved in many more with his timing into the backline and incisive running game when spotting opportunities.

“Leadership is not foreign to him,” praised coach Les Kiss.

“He is a great communicator from the back and a great communicator in the locker room.”

“A salt of the earth good bloke,” Reds hooker Matt Faessler added.

“The strength of Jock’s game is his consistency. He very rarely has a bad game. He brings a cool, calm head and doesn’t get rattled easily.

“He’s a great fit.”

The Southport School product Jock Campbell. Picture: QRU Media/ Erick Lucero.

Campbell will implement all his tricks when leading Queensland onto the Hallowed Lang Park turf and in front of its biggest crowd since winning the 2021 Super Rugby AU final over the Brumbies.

That triumph showed the noise that more than 40,000 fans can make on a big night at The Cauldron and 50,000 are expected for Wednesday’s war.

“With the amount of touring Lions fans, it could feel like an away game,” said Faessler.

“I think there will be a fair bit of chat between the Aussies and the English, I predict the most.”

Faessler is referencing some tongue and cheek on the field and off it too.

“I imagine if you go to Caxton Street after the game there will be a bit of to-and-fro.”

THE SQUAD (1-15): Aidan Ross, Matt Faessler, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru, John Bryant, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell (c)

Reserves: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Sef Fa’agase, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Conor Vest, Louis Werchon, Isaac Henry

Originally published as Reds fullback Jock Campbell re-signed on eve of landmark honour against Lions