NRL 2021: Jayden Campbell, son of NRL legend Preston, edging closer to debut for Gold Coast Titans

After carving up the Intrust Super Cup, the son of NRL legend Preston Campbell is on the verge of making a stunning debut and creating history for the Gold Coast Titans.

The son of Dally M Medal winner Preston Campbell is on the verge of a stunning NRL debut after tearing the Intrust Super Cup to shreds.

Titans livewire Jayden Campbell is edging closer towards an NRL call-up for the Gold Coast following a hat-trick of tries for Tweed Heads.

After missing an entire development year in 2020 due to COVID-19, Campbell has found his feet in Queensland’s top competition.

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He bagged three tries, broke 17 tackles and ran for an incredible 298m at fullback in Tweed’s 18-all draw with the Northern Pride last weekend.

At 21, Campbell has been biding his time for an opportunity in the NRL and is now listed at 80kg after being a slight 70kg not that long ago.

Jayden Campbell has been a standout for Tweed Heads in the Intrust Super Cup.

Maroons Origin star AJ Brimson has a mortgage on the Gold Coast’s No.1 jersey, but he could be called up for Queensland in the next fortnight, opening the door for Campbell to make his NRL debut.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook has listed Campbell in his 21-man squad for the past two rounds, with Brimson carrying a groin complaint.

Preston and Jayden will become the first father-son duo to represent the Titans entity in the club’s 15-season history if the youngster is blooded.

Campbell’s coach at Tweed, Ben Woolf, said the son of a gun could handle the NRL.

“He might have to,” he said. “Physically it’s going to be difficult and there’s still some areas of his game he has to work on.

“But looking at guys like Reece Walsh (Warriors), guys with speed and footwork, seem to be able to do more damage than what the opposition can do to them.

“Hopefully he can go in and do a good job. Those things stand out at any level.

Jayden Campbell with his father Preston Campbell.

“Reece was doing a good job at Redcliffe and when he jumped up to NRL he has done exactly the same thing. It doesn’t matter which level you’re at, those skills stand out.”

Preston Campbell played 267 NRL games for the Gold Coast Chargers, Cronulla, Penrith and Titans. He won the NRL’s Dally M Medal in 2001 and was the Titans’ first signing, leading the club from 2007 until his retirement in 2011.

At 167cm and 73kg, Campbell was one of the smallest players in NRL history but made up for it with his fearless attitude and instinctive brilliance.

Jayden Campbell is slight but taller than his father and carries many of the same footballing traits, as evidenced by a kick-and-regather try on the weekend.

“When he did that it was off the back of a set restart so if he didn’t get it back I probably would have kicked his arse (laughs),” Woolf said.

Jayden Campbell is a silky player like his father. Picture: Adam Head

“He is very instinctive and one of his biggest strengths is his ability to attack the ball at full speed and pick it up on the run. If you don’t allow him to do that sort of stuff then that strength doesn’t help your team.

“He is getting more confident in doing that. He is getting good at picking when the fullback is in the line and knowing when to kick and get it back.

“If he sees it he does it, we don’t negatively coach him on doing that.

“He is progressing nicely and getting more comfortable with the level. His biggest strength is his running game. He is a very good at returning the footy.

“He is pretty brave in how he takes the football and his ability to create something from nothing on his kick returns is a strength.

“He probably had nine tackle breaks in one run. With his speed and footwork he is hard to get a clean tackle on and he is reasonably strong.

Jayden Campbell played in a pre-season trial for the Titans against the Burleigh Bears. Picture: Jason O'Brien

“He is deceptively strong and because he is fast and good on his feet he can be hard to get hold of when you don’t have everyone in the line.”

Titans players marvel at Campbell’s plays during training sessions and believe it is only a matter of time before he hits the NRL.

“He is a freak,” prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui said.

“You get out there at training and he steps around, pokes his head through, he’s got ball-playing and footwork. He has everything you need in a fullback.

“He’s been doing that well in Cup and at training against us fellas. It pushes us to be better.

“I reckon he could (handle NRL). Once his opportunity comes, he will take it with both hands. We’ve got to be like him with the mentality of training hard and playing well on the weekend. I think he could handle it.”