There was a time last year when Terry Campese couldn't stand hearing Trent Barrett's name.
It seemed like every time he opened a newspaper there was a story speculating about which NRL club Barrett would sign with for the 2009 season.
One of the clubs that was particularly eager to secure the former NSW and Australian five-eighth was the Canberra Raiders, where Campese was wearing the No6 jersey.Until Barrett decided where he would be playing Campese's future was on hold, after the club he grew up supporting withdrew a contract offer to him to chase the former Dragon.
Eventually Barrett joined Cronulla and Campese got to stay with the Raiders.
Now he can't wait to meet the Sharks at Toyota Stadium tonight, in a game he hopes will prove the Raiders got the better of the two players, even if he was their second choice.
Campese admitted it was weird thinking that it could be Barrett, not him, wearing the Raiders' No6 jersey tonight.
''There was at least a month or two where [Barrett] was undecided about whether to go to the Raiders or the Sharks,'' Campese said.
''If he did come here I've got no idea where I'd be right now, but I'm glad he decided to go with the Sharks and never came to the Raiders.''Campese is going into tonight's clash in a far better place than he was at this stage last season.He's gone from a guy who had to wait until the Tuesday of each week to learn if he was getting a game, to one of the most respected playmakers in the competition.
Now instead of wondering if he'll still be playing for the Raiders in a couple of months, he's wondering if he'll get his first start for NSW. Campese has stood out this season even in a team that has won just one of its first four games.
He's leading the NRL in try assists with seven, line break assists with four and 40-20 kicks with three.All of those things point to a man who is on the cusp of breaking into NSW's State of Origin team this year.Campese said he couldn't put his finger on what it was that finally made his game click midway through last year.
All he knows is that with each good performance his confidence grew.''There was a time where I wasn't quite sure if I was there each week and I was fighting to keep my spot,'' Campese said.
''I couldn't really focus on what I had to do.
''I always knew that I could play better football, but I don't know what made me click and start playing more consistent.
''Now I just feel more confident in my ability and every opportunity I get now I try to take.''Campese insists he is keeping Origin thoughts out of his mind, with his primary focus being the Raiders.But he admitted putting on a Blues jersey would be one of the greatest feelings of his career. And if he got there he said he wouldn't be overawed by the experience.
''I'd never doubt myself if I did get called up.
''I'd never question my ability, I'd just try my hardest and jump straight in there and soak up the whole week.''Campese has had to take on even more responsibility at the Raiders this season.
He is in the team's leadership group for the first time and captained the Raiders in round two when regular skipper Alan Tongue was out injured.
With just 50 NRL games he is the second-most experienced member of the Raiders' backline behind Australian winger Joel Monaghan.
''We've got a young team, especially in the backs where Joel is the oldest and I'm the second oldest,'' he said.
''I see myself as a senior player, even though I haven't played that many games I have to do a lot of the talking and get the boys around the paddock.
''But the position I love is five-eighth and it's a leadership role.''
Email a friend