Bush Beat: Terry Campese comes out of retirement for the Queanbeyan Blues
TERRY Campese said he was finished last year but the former Raider will pull the boots on one more time for the Queanbeyan Blues.
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IF Terry Campese had his way, he would have retired years ago.
At 33 and entering a 14th season this year, Campese knows his ageing body isn’t slick as it was during his NRL career with Canberra.
It would be easy for the ex-Raiders playmaker to be selfish and put himself first, but with his hometown Queanbeyan Blues struggling for numbers he is refusing to retire.
Campese guided the Blues to last year’s Canberra premiership and he is determined to see the club sustain its success.
“So until I find some halves, it’s going to be hard to hang up the boots,” Campese said.
“It has definitely been a lot tougher than last year.
“We had 50 blokes at training every week, but this year it has been a bit of a struggle.
“Last year is the first time I got through a full season, but then I hurt myself in the World Cup with Italy.
“I’ll just play as long as I can and see how the body feels.”
Following the surge in popularity of a host of rival sports, Campese believes it’s paramount country clubs have a strong focus on the junior league ranks.
“It’s more important these days, because there is a lot of competition out there,” he said.
“We are forever fighting for numbers in the junior system to keep kids in league over rugby union, soccer, AFL.
“The other sports are pumping a lot of money into their juniors and I think it is definitely something we have to look at as a whole game to ensure league is one of the best games.”
Monahgan reunites with Purtell
It has been seven years in the making, but Joel Monaghan’s self-imposed exile is finally over.
Monaghan starred on debut for the Albury Thunder in Friday’s West Belconnen Warriors Nines tournament, scoring a double in a 12-4 win over Goulburn.
The former Kangaroos flyer hasn’t played in Australia since his infamous Mad Monday stunt forced him to quit Canberra and sign with English club Warrington.
Fittingly, Monaghan has reunited with his former Raiders teammate Adrian Purtell at the Thunder.
“The last time we played together was in Canberra in 2009, so it is very exciting,” Purtell told Bush Beat.
“It’s just great to have a player of Joel’s ability, plus he is a good bloke off the field as well.
“We lived together in England for the best part of two years and we’ve kept in contact ever since.
“It is always something I joked about to all my former teammates to play for Albury, so it’s good to see one return.”
Monaghan most likely won’t play every game for Albury during the Group 9 season due to work commitments in Melbourne.
But Purtell is remaining optimistic.
“Hopefully we can get Joel up to Albury for a few games,” he said.
“I’d love to have him for every game, but I understand that work will be the main priority for him now.
“We’ll just have to play it by ear. The first hurdle was to get him registered to play in the Nines and then we’ll just take the next step after that.
“Hopefully he enjoys himself this weekend and he wants to play a few more games.”
Thurling lines up for Cooma
Group 16 premiers Cooma have boosted their ranks with the signing of former Canterbury and Canberra forward Trevor Thurling.
Thurling, a Queanbeyan-born product, will line-up for the Stallions alongside former Cronulla teen sensation Karl Filiga.