Field goals in trial games. You're kidding, right? But when you've had the wretched injury luck that has haunted Raiders star Terry Campese, any time is a good time to fire off that trusty right boot.
The representative five-eighth directed traffic, proved his powerful kicking game remains intact and - most importantly - emerged unscathed from tonight's 27-18 win against the Melbourne Storm in Albury.
Countless column inches have been devoted to Campese's rotten 2011 season, in which he played just eight minutes, tearing his adductor in his comeback from a knee reconstruction.
He showed no ill effects of either injury, playing the first 60 minutes before being rested for the final 30 minute period.
Campese led the Raiders on to the field in a sign he's the leading contender for the Raiders captaincy along with Kangaroos prop David Shillington, who missed the game with an elbow injury.
It didn't take long for the champion No 6 to get his hands on the ball. On tackle four of the Raiders first set in possession, Campese unleashed his trademark powerful boot to pin the Storm inside their own 20m.
The short kicking game was also on song. With the Raiders on the attack, Campese summed up the situation beautifully to launch a pinpoint bomb to the right-hand corner. Fullback Josh Dugan got his hands on the ball first but was unable to control it.
Campese's touch was also evident on the ground, placing a smooth grubber kick under the posts for lock Shaun Fensom, only for the Storm's Sika Manu to kick it over the dead ball line.
While Campese was heavily involved, importantly for the Raiders they didn't rely on him for all their attacking raids. Canberra's first two tries came without his input - Bronson Harrison throwing a lovely cut-out ball to Reece Robinson for the first before new recruit Shaun Berrigan showed neat footwork to barge his way over.
With the first period winding down, Campese caught the 6583-strong crowd, the Storm and his own teammates, by surprise with a long-range 40m drop goal.
Distance was never an issue as the ball hung in the night sky before scraping inside the left post. After tries to Todd Lowrie and Matt McGahan reduced the deficit to 13-10, a towering Campese bomb caught the Storm napping, with Dimitri Pelo picking up the scraps.
With Campese and several other first-grade regulars, including NSW fullback Josh Dugan, substituted for the final half an hour, the Raiders blooded a handful of fringe players and under-20s prospects.
Second-rower Jarrad Kennedy and imposing youngster Edrick Lee sealed the victory, with Ryan Hoffman's try for the Storm sandwiched in between.
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs left the field for the Raiders midway through the second period with a foot injury but is expected to be fit for the club's second trial game against the Canterbury Bulldogs in Wagga Wagga next Saturday.
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