Six years later that decision is paying huge dividends.

Campese will make his NSW State of Origin debut in Melbourne on Wednesday and is also set to sign a lucrative five-year contract extension that will make him a Raider for life.

It is a remarkable change in fortunes for the 24-year-old, who was unwanted by the Raiders just 12months year ago.

But while Campese's rise from off-contract club footballer to NSW five-eighth seems phenomenal to an outsider, those who know him well aren't surprised at all.

For them the writing was on the wall when he resisted overtures from the ACT Brumbies and Sydney rugby clubs to sign his first contract with the Raiders in 2002.

Playing Origin football was a dream Campese first harboured as a five-year-old playing for the Queanbeyan Blues. But he admits chasing league glory wasn't always his top priority as a teenager.

He was more of a union man in those formative years, following in the footsteps of his famous uncle, former Wallabies winger David Campese. At one stage Campese gave both football codes the flick, turning his attention to basketball.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times