Terry Campese was major cog in the Green Machine during a 139-game NRL career with the Canberra Raiders.
Now, he will don black and green of the Townsville Blackhawks.
The 39-year-old has been unveiled as the Blackhawks' new Hostplus Cup coach. He’ll arrive in Townsville next week but that hasn’t stopped him starting his new role already.
“I started the minute I got the phone call," Campese said.
"So, you know writing down a list of players we could potentially target and then getting on the blower straight away.”
Campese’s coaching experience includes six years at the Queanbeyan Blues, with the side securing premierships under his guidance as a captain/coach.
He’s also taken charge of representative country teams in recent years and the former five-eighth embraced his assistant coach duties with Italy at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup in England.
“I’ve been and avid follower of Cup and it’s probably the next progression of my coaching career now," Campese said.
"I believe this job is a great opportunity to make that next step.”
Campese’s determined to lead the Blackhawks back to the finals but he isn’t just focused on getting results in Cup.
“I think a successful club is from the community to the juniors all the way through to the staff and you know, everyone involved with the club buying in to that," Campese said.
And he’ll be right behind the club’s Hastings Deering Colts side on Saturday as they try to book their spot in the Colts grand final.
