Campo’s last game could complete Queanbeyan’s footy premiership trifecta
It’s the stuff of dreams: if the Queanbeyan Blues win their rugby league grand final game at Seiffert Oval this Sunday, it will be the first time in history Queanbeyan has dominated the local AFL, union and league competitions.
The Queanbeyan Whites became the John I Dent Cup champions over the weekend, ending a 12-year premiership drought for the club. The team, including returning Super Rugby player Robbie Coleman, defeated Canberra Royals in a convincing 29-16 win. The Queanbeyan Whites fourth grade team – featuring well known Queanbeyan football veterans Daniel Hawke and Aaron McInnes – also took home the premiership earlier in the day, beating the Tuggeranong Vikings 34-14.
Over in AFL land, the Queanbeyan Tigers have a prolific premiership history. They continued their streak in 2022 by being the first ever club to win the men’s and women’s grand final simultaneously. The Tigers became back-to-back premiers on August 27th winning 7.12-54 def Belconnen 7.8-50. In the women’s grand final match, superstar Ella Shea took her team to the finish line, kicking the winning goal to win 6.4-40 over Ainslie 5.5-35.
The Queanbeyan Blues have had a stellar year with 11 wins and only five losses, Terry Campese’s kicking game punishing opponents in high scoring games and putting a massive 548 points on the board for the season. Finishing up the season fourth on the ladder, just four points behind minor premiers West Belconnen Warriors, whom they meet at Seiffert Oval on Sunday.
Campese’s efforts also saw him achieve a major milestone, taking home the Les McIntyre medal for the Canberra Region Rugby League 2022 competition, but he says the time has come to hang up the boots.
“My body is falling part … it has been for many many years,” Campese says.
“It’s time. I’ve enjoyed it, and I pretty much only played this year because the past two years have been out struck by COVID, and I wanted to go out on my own terms.”
Terry Campese: happy recipient of the 2022 Les McIntyre Medal.
Since his return to the Queanbeyan Blues in 2017, Campese has lead the team to three from four premierships wins as captain/coach and has been crucial in securing talented players for the club from right across the Queanbeyan region.
“Watching young kids like Josh Colovatti and Josh Stuckey, Josh Baker and Joshy Mitchell … all these kids reach their goals, is probably the highlight of my time at the Blues … you just want to see the kids get there and seeing Josh Stuckey run out for the Bulldogs that was pretty special.”
This weekend, Campese will have his eye on the prize, looking to take home the 2022 Blumer’s Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup and finish his career on a high.
“They got us by quite a margin in the last round of the season and they put a fair show in last weekend against Woden,” he says of the West Belconnen Warriors.
“They’re gonna be tough, they’ve got a great attacking side. We’re going to have to be at our best to get the job done.”
A young Terry Campese playing for the Queanbeyan Blues circa 1990.
Campese’s rugby league career has spanned more than three decades and seen him play for local, national and international teams including the Canberra Raiders, Hull Kingston Rovers, New South Wales and Italy. While the veteran player says his on-field days are over, he would love to continue being involved in rugby league at a coaching level.
“I haven’t had discussions with the club at all, I just want to get this game over and done with before we discuss future plans,” he says.
“It’s a dream, who knows, I’ve got the World Cup after this, October I fly out to Europe with the Italian team and take on an assistant coaching role there, so hopefully it opens a few doors. This year I coached Monaro and the country teams, so ticking a few little goals and boxes off on the way has been pretty special.”
The first grade Blues team earlier this season after their local derby match with the Queanbeyan Roos.
The Blues take on the West Belconnen Warriors at Seiffert Oval this Sunday from 3pm, but arrive early to cheer on the Queanbeyan Roos reserve grade team v Gunghalin Bulls from 1.20pm.
If the boys take home the win we reckon beers at the Toppy should be on the Mayor!
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About the Author: Holly Winchester
Part Jennifer Coolidge, part Jennifer Garner (gaudy and geeky), Holly idolises Dolly Parton and Princess Di and loves NRL. When she's not creating killer content, you’ll find Holly at the Maccas drive thru getting her chai latte fix or buying 1990s memorabilia for the walls of her Googong home. Specialist subject: the Woolies carpark.
