Preston Campbell
Encyclopedia
Preston Campbell, is an Indigenous Australian
professional rugby league
footballer for the Gold Coast Titans
of the National Rugby League
. A New South Wales Country and Indigenous Dreamtime team representative five-eighth or fullback, he previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks before moving to the Penrith Panthers
with whom he won the 2003 NRL Premiership.
in 1998 as a fullback. Unfortunately, the Chargers were disbanded at the end of the season.
. His electrifying speed and side-step combined with his diminutive stature and humility quickly endeared him to Cronulla fans.
It was expected by some that he would eventually return to the lower grades until he was needed again but coach John Lang
had other ideas. Clearly Campbell was too talented to be wasted playing in reserve grade. With the return of David Peachey, he was no longer needed at fullback and Cronulla was struggling without a recognised halfback. Finding the solution to two problems Lang pencilled in Campbell for the halfback role. Combining with David Peachey and pivot Adam Dykes
, the trio formed a devastating combination on the field as Cronulla pushed forward and made a serious bid for its 2001 finals campaign including one memorable game when Premiership favourites the Newcastle Knights
were soundly beaten by the Sharks.
At the end of 2001, Preston Campbell was awarded the Dally M
Player of the Year, beating Andrew Johns
, the Newcastle Knights captain, by one point and became Cronulla's third Dally M medallist.
In 2002, with the arrival of new coach Chris Anderson and former Test halfback Brett Kimmorley
at the club, he was overlooked for his preferred halfback role in place of Kimmorley. He was instead moved to the unfamiliar position of hooker. After several disastrous games and seemingly very little interest in playing, he was dropped to reserve grade and, stating his desire to return to the position he had made his own, requested a release from Cronulla which was eventually granted in early August, 2002.
(then under the guidance of his former mentor, John Lang) for a three year term. Although Campbell had been given no guarantees on which position he would play, he said that he was looking forward to playing under John Lang once more.
In his first season with the Penrith Panthers in 2003, and back in his more familiar role at halfback/five-eighth, he proved to be a great asset to the team, playing every minute of every match for the entire season.
Campbell played at five-eighth in the 2003 NRL grand final
-winning Panthers team, kicking two goals.
. Campbell signed a three-year contract which commenced in 2007. Due to injury to other players such as Chris Walker, Campbell spent much of the 2007 season at fullback.
Campbell had been playing well during the 2007 season and started the 2008 season in good form. He extended his contract with the Titans. He was named the 2008 Gold Coast Titans player of the year for his consistent and inspiring performances throughout the year. In 2009, played halfback, five-eighth and fullback due to the injuries to players such as Scott Prince
and Mat Rogers
.
He retired at the end of the 2011 Season.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. A New South Wales Country and Indigenous Dreamtime team representative five-eighth or fullback, he previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks before moving to the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
with whom he won the 2003 NRL Premiership.
Early career
Campbell started his rugby league career with the Inverell Hawks junior club and made his NRL debut with the Gold Coast ChargersGold Coast Chargers
Gold Coast were a professional Rugby league football club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from 1988 to 1994, the Australian Rugby League premiership from 1995 to 1997, and the National Rugby League premiership in 1998...
in 1998 as a fullback. Unfortunately, the Chargers were disbanded at the end of the season.
Cronulla Sharks
Preston moved on to play for the Cronulla Sharks in 1999. He spent the first two seasons biding his time in reserve grade and occasionally filling in for injuries in first grade. It was in 2001 that he showed what he was capable of with his feats as a replacement fullback for the injured David PeacheyDavid Peachey
David Peachey is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback, he played the majority of his club football in the National Rugby League for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks...
. His electrifying speed and side-step combined with his diminutive stature and humility quickly endeared him to Cronulla fans.
It was expected by some that he would eventually return to the lower grades until he was needed again but coach John Lang
John Lang (rugby league)
John Lang is an Australian former rugby league football coach and player. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative hooker, he played his club football in Brisbane with the Eastern Suburbs Tigers and in Sydney with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters...
had other ideas. Clearly Campbell was too talented to be wasted playing in reserve grade. With the return of David Peachey, he was no longer needed at fullback and Cronulla was struggling without a recognised halfback. Finding the solution to two problems Lang pencilled in Campbell for the halfback role. Combining with David Peachey and pivot Adam Dykes
Adam Dykes
Adam Dykes is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He has previously played for the Parramatta Eels, Cronulla Sharks and Hull...
, the trio formed a devastating combination on the field as Cronulla pushed forward and made a serious bid for its 2001 finals campaign including one memorable game when Premiership favourites the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
were soundly beaten by the Sharks.
At the end of 2001, Preston Campbell was awarded the Dally M
Dally M Awards
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal which is only ever awarded to Australian born Players...
Player of the Year, beating Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
, the Newcastle Knights captain, by one point and became Cronulla's third Dally M medallist.
In 2002, with the arrival of new coach Chris Anderson and former Test halfback Brett Kimmorley
Brett Kimmorley
Brett "Noddy" Kimmorley was an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the NRL. He has previously played for five other clubs and has also represented his country and state on several occasions...
at the club, he was overlooked for his preferred halfback role in place of Kimmorley. He was instead moved to the unfamiliar position of hooker. After several disastrous games and seemingly very little interest in playing, he was dropped to reserve grade and, stating his desire to return to the position he had made his own, requested a release from Cronulla which was eventually granted in early August, 2002.
Penrith Panthers
On August 7, 2002, it was announced that Campbell had agreed to terms with the Penrith PanthersPenrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
(then under the guidance of his former mentor, John Lang) for a three year term. Although Campbell had been given no guarantees on which position he would play, he said that he was looking forward to playing under John Lang once more.
In his first season with the Penrith Panthers in 2003, and back in his more familiar role at halfback/five-eighth, he proved to be a great asset to the team, playing every minute of every match for the entire season.
Campbell played at five-eighth in the 2003 NRL grand final
2003 NRL grand final
The 2003 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the 2003 NRL season. In what was a contest of Sydney's east versus west, defending premiers and match favourites, the Sydney Roosters played against minor premiers and underdogs, the Penrith Panthers...
-winning Panthers team, kicking two goals.
Gold Coast Titans
In 2005, with two seasons still to play with the Panthers, Campbell was the inaugural signing for the newly admitted NRL club, Gold Coast TitansGold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
. Campbell signed a three-year contract which commenced in 2007. Due to injury to other players such as Chris Walker, Campbell spent much of the 2007 season at fullback.
Campbell had been playing well during the 2007 season and started the 2008 season in good form. He extended his contract with the Titans. He was named the 2008 Gold Coast Titans player of the year for his consistent and inspiring performances throughout the year. In 2009, played halfback, five-eighth and fullback due to the injuries to players such as Scott Prince
Scott Prince
Scott Prince is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and current captain of the Gold Coast Titans club of the National Rugby League...
and Mat Rogers
Mat Rogers
Matthew S. "Mat" Rogers is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He also played rugby union at the highest levels, becoming a dual-code international. The son of the late Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks legend and CEO Steve Rogers, Mat played for the Sharks...
.
He retired at the end of the 2011 Season.