Canberra Raiders legend Mal Meninga has backed Terry Campese to bounce back a better player, claiming the star five-eighth's rotten injury curse will ''maketh the man''.
The former Australian Kangaroos captain has also endorsed Campese's captaincy credentials as the Raiders search for a new skipper in 2012.
Campese will make his anticipated return to rugby league against the Melbourne Storm in Albury tomorrow night, having played just eight minutes of NRL in the past 512 days due to consecutive knee and groin injuries.
His return is commonly viewed as pivotal to Canberra's success this season.
Meninga was Canberra's original hard-luck injury story. He famously broke his arm four times in the 1987-88 seasons, but eventually returned to captain the Raiders to their inaugural 1989 premiership.
Meninga was confident Campese's hard road of rehabilitation would toughen him mentally.
''Part of growing up and maturing in professional sport is the mental strength you get from having to handle adversity,'' Meninga said.
''I think Campo will come on in leaps and bounds because of that mental approach to it all and the mental toughness you need to overcome injuries.
''Everyone was telling me it was doomsday [when I kept breaking my arm], but that just made me more determined.
''Those things maketh the man. When you come up against adversity it's how you handle it. If you handle it right, it can be a positive experience. I trained harder than I ever did before in my whole life.''
Meninga was 27, the same age as Campese, when he first broke his arm, sliding into the goalposts at Seiffert Oval in May 1987.
His padded arm brace became a Raiders icon as he played on until 1994, leading the Raiders to three premierships during their glory days.
Meninga has been given a more active role with the Raiders this season and he supervised Canberra's opening week of pre-season training. Campese's influence on the team was immediate.
''He does make a difference, that's what I got out of it,'' Meninga said. ''I was only there week one, but his communication with the team is really important ... everything revolves around him.
''I see him as a future leader, whether it's now or down the track. After the injuries he's had, maybe he just gets on with his game and then, when he's feeling right with himself, takes on the captaincy.
''He's going to be a bit apprehensive at first, but it'll be good for him to get back on the playing field. When he's playing the team grows as well.''
Former Raiders coach and current Tigers mentor Tim Sheens previously called on Meninga for advice during star Benji Marshall's long run with shoulder injuries. But Meninga said he hadn't felt the need to labour Campese with advice.
''For him it was about getting back into training and proving to everyone, including himself that he can get back to full fitness and compete again ... He doesn't need anybody in his ear.''
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