Players Push For Campbell To Captain

[DIEHARD]

Players Push For Campbell To Captain
Adam Gardini

A player driven recommendation will see retiring Jetstar Gold Coast Titan Preston Campbell captain the side in tomorrow night?s anticipated clash against heavyweights Melbourne at Skilled Park.

In a fitting send-off for the retiring Campbell, Jetstar Titans Coach John Cartwright today revealed the crowd favourite would captain the side in the absence of injured skipper Scott Prince, after receiving the recommendation of former club co-captain Luke Bailey on the behalf of the playing group.

?It was player driven. Luke Bailey was probably the obvious choice but as selfless as ?Bails? is, he came with the group opinion that they?d like Presto to be captain,?? said Cartwright, after the Titans completed today?s final training session at Skilled Park.

?It?s a great honour and to get it that way, it?s an even greater honour.

?It won?t change the way he plays, he can?t play any braver and can?t do any more on the field than what he does. It?s just nice to know that you?ve got the support of your teammates.??

Bailey said his decision to push for Campbell to be captain was born out of ?respect? for the pint-sized excitement machine.

?It wasn?t really officially mine to give away but I just know that being a captain is about blokes respecting you and there?s probably no more of a bloke at the club that gets more respect from his players than Presto,?? said Bailey.

?I just asked Carty if he was going to hand it to him rather than me. I love playing with Presto and I?d love him to lead us out for the last four games and try and get off the bottom of the table.??

Cartwright predicted Campbell would be back to his electric best against the Storm after sensing an extra spring in his step at training this week.

?I haven?t seen him this excited for a long time so I?m really looking forward to tomorrow?s game, I really think he?s going to have a beauty,?? he said.

?He doesn?t talk himself up but you know Preston by his body language and his action. I think halfback is probably his favourite position and he?s going to get a chance to finish his career there for us and I think it?s fantastic.??

Cartwright said Campbell would also be the first choice goal kicker tomorrow night in the absence of Prince.

?He?s kicked a lot of goals over his career and he practices all of the time so he?ll be first choice kicker,?? he said.

http://www.titans.com.au/

[DIEHARD]

What a fitting tribute to a champion, especially from the players.

Captain and halfback, I'm very happy with that.

[DIEHARD]

Preston Campbell takes Titans captaincy

VETERAN livewire Preston Campbell will play out his 14-season NRL career as captain after Gold Coast's players voted for him to lead them in their Last v First NRL battle on Saturday night.

Campbell will not only replace injured playmaker Scott Prince in the No.7 jersey but also as Titans skipper and goalkicker when he lines up against the Melbourne Storm at Skilled Park.

Player power led the way for the 34-year-old to take the role which former co-captain Luke Bailey was expected to assume after Prince broke his arm in their last-start win over Cronulla.

"It wasn't really officially mine to give away but I just know that being a captain is about blokes respecting you and there's probably no more of a bloke at the club that gets more respect from his players than Presto," Bailey said.

"I just asked Carty (coach John Cartwright) if he was going to hand it to him rather than me.

"I love playing with Presto and I'd love him to lead us out for the last four games and try and get off the bottom of the table."

Fittingly, it will also be Campbell's 100th top-grade match for a Gold Coast-based side, after he debuted in 1998 with the then Chargers.

A former NRL halfback of the year with the Sharks and 2003 Penrith premiership star, the 260-match stalwart will retire at season's end.

Cartwright expects Campbell to thrive in his favourite position and with the captaincy as he plots to upset the competition frontrunners.

The dynamic utility back also has a fine record against the Storm after inspiring the Titans to an 18-6 win in Melbourne in 2009 and a 20-16 victory at Skilled Park last year.

"Luke Bailey was probably the obvious choice but as selfless as Bails is, he came with the group opinion that they'd like Presto to be captain," Cartwright said.

"It's a great honour and to get it that way, it's an even greater honour.

"It won't change the way he plays, he can't play any braver and can't do any more on the field than what he does."

The Storm are certainly on guard for a potential ambush with skipper Cameron Smith well aware of the history between the clubs.

"They tend to fire up a bit when they play us, and particularly on their home turf," he said on SEN Radio.

"We've got to go up there not thinking about a month's time when the finals start, we've got to go there and make sure we prepare for a really tough time because that's what it will be."

http://www.couriermail.com.au/

[Mushi]

And rightly so!!! Go Presto - play your heart out and enjoy your last few games! A well deserved captaincy :-)