Italy half-back Terry Campese set for Canberra farewell
Thursday 9 November 2017 12:11, UK
Former Hull KR captain Terry Campese is hoping to make it third time lucky and bring his professional career to a fitting finale in Canberra on Friday.
The veteran stand-off has pulled out of Italy's opening two World Cup matches after succumbing to a calf injury but came through Thursday's captain's run and is expected to line up against Fiji in what would be his farewell appearance at Canberra Stadium.
Campese, 33, who qualifies for the Azzurri through his Italian grandfather Antonio, is one of the Raiders' all-time greats but never got the chance to say goodbye after making his last appearance at Canberra Stadium three years ago, when he left to join the Robins in Super League.
After leaving Hull KR following their relegation in 2016, Campese led Italy in their qualifying victory over Russia at Leigh before spending the 2017 season captaining and coaching Queanbeyan Blues.
"I'm hoping to be fit," he said. "We'll see how I pull up after the captain's run but running out again at Canberra Stadium one last time is something I dream of.
"It's something I've been looking forward to for a year and I've had to cancel my mum's trip twice so far.
"I've been seeing the physio a couple of times a day, I'm trying everything there is, there is nothing more I can do. It comes down to the coach now and how I pull up."
Italy need to win by more than 45 points to prevent Fiji topping Group D and setting up a quarter-final against New Zealand or Tonga.
