Canberra Raiders captain Terry Campese could be closer to finding a career lifeline in the British Super League, Hull Kingston Rovers confirming the veteran playmaker is on a list of potential recruitment targets.
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Rovers are chasing two playmakers after unexpectedly losing their Australian halves combination of Travis Burns and Kris Keating in the past fortnight, with chief executive Mike Smith confirming Campese is on their radar as a possible replacement.
Fairfax Media understands Hull KR's primary targets are Parramatta halfback Luke Kelly, 24, and Gold Coast Titans player Maurice Blair, 29, but Smith said the club would be doing due diligence before making offers to any potential recruit.
Smith said he'd spoken with Campese's manager, Jim Banaghan, and it's understood the club has made calls to Australia this week inquiring about Campese's off-field character. That isn't in question, with Campese awarded the NRL's Ken Stephens medal last year for his community work.
Smith also confirmed Hull KR coach Chris Chester had been speaking with Justin Morgan, a former coach of the Robins and a recent assistant coach with the Raiders. Former Raiders Michael Weyman and Neville Costigan are also on the Rovers roster.
"Justin's been speaking with coach Chris Chester about what players might do well here," Smith said. "The Super League is a different game to the NRL, a player who may be a bit player in the NRL could come over and be a superstar in the Super League.
"We've lost Travis Burns to St Helens and Kris Keating has decided to go back to Australia, so it means we're short of a six and seven."
Smith said the preference was to pick up a younger player, but said Campese had the runs on the board as a former Australian and State of Origin representative.
"He's been there, done it and got the t-shirt, so we've got a tick in the box there," Smith said. "We look at the player, the family background, the history, the age, the injuries, all those factors before we go for a player.
"There's not many young guys who can command the park like he could, he's got huge experience and age isn't a barrier because we've seen players playing to 34-35.
"He's on quite a long list of players ... I can't rule him out but I can't say it's anything other than initial inquiries, to be honest, about a number of players."
Campese's career is in limbo. The 30-year-old missed out on a mid-season transfer to Hull FC when the Raiders and Campese's management could not agree on a payout.
The Raiders would probably need to compensate Campese if he was to leave for England, given any contract is unlikely to match his $500,000 deal in Canberra.
But Campese faces the prospect of losing his captaincy and spending the bulk of the year in NSW Cup if he decides to stay at the Raiders. He failed to attend the club's end-of-season presentation, without providing an explanation for his absence.
Canberra has snared another of Hull KR's pivotal players, hooker and player-of-the-year Josh Hodgson.
Fairfax Media understands the Raiders paid a six-figure transfer fee to Hull KR to release him from his three-year deal with the Robins.
Smith said Hull KR could not stand in the 24-year-old's way and felt he would adapt to the NRL.
"I think he'll go very well. It won't be for lack of trying," he said. "He's absolutely a true professional on and off the field. We didn't want him to leave, but it's the chance of a lifetime for him and we didn't want to stand in his way."
