Preston Campbell

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Tuesday, 7th June, 1977
Current Age
46 years and 286 days
Place Of Birth
Inverell, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Dally M Halfback Of The Year
2001
Dally M Player Of The Year
2001
Ken Stephen Medal
2008

Known Family Links

Cousin
Nathan Blacklock
Bevan French
Greg Inglis
Second cousin once removed
Albert Kelly
Son
Jayden Campbell

Biography

The cousin of prolific try-scorer Nathan Blacklock, Preston Campbell had an extraordinary 2001 season. Signed by the G’Coast in the club’s last season in the NRL, the little halfback from Tingha was recruited by Cronulla in 1999. A knee injury in 2000 limited his first grade appearances until an injury to international winger Mat Rogers saw him cement a first grade place on the flank. When Campbell moved to halfback, the Sharks attack went into overdrive – his unpredictable step and uncanny ability to find the narrowest routes to the try-line saw him score 17 tries and earn an updated contract. Named the Provan-Summons Medal winner as Best and Fairest Player of 2001, he was unlucky not to have toured with the Kangaroos. However, the signing of former Test half Brett Kimmorley seemed to flatten the youngster’s confidence in 2002 and it was erroneously reported that he was joining Souths. Assured by new coach Chris Anderson that he had an important role to play in the club’s premiership aspirations, he started the season at hooker before being shifted to the wing and finally the interchange bench. In 2003 he linked with former Sharks coach John Lang at Penrith and had a stellar season. Playing five-eighth, he proved the perfect foil for chief playmaker Craig Gower. Campbell was often vulnerable in the defensive line because of his size but he was one of the first players recruited by the G’Coast
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 267 86 279   1 903 134 131 2 50.19% List
NRL Finals 11 6 2   - 28 6 5 0 54.55% List
World Club Challenge 1 - 0   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
City vs Country 3 - -   - - 1 2 0 33.33% List
All Stars 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW Country 2005-07 3 - -   - - 1 2 0 33.33% List
Indigenous 2010 1 - -   - - 1 0 0 100.00% List
Overall2005-2010 4 0 0   0 - 2 2 0 50.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Gold Coast NRL 1998 14 4 -   - 16 2 12 0 14.29% List
Sharks NRL 1999 6 1 -   - 4 4 2 0 66.67% List
Sharks NRL 2000 6 3 -   - 12 3 3 0 50.00% List
Sharks NRL 2001 29 17 24 / 39 61.54% - 116 17 10 2 58.62% List
Sharks NRL 2002 13 3 -   - 12 5 8 0 38.46% List
Penrith NRL 2003 27 13 56 / 77 72.73% - 164 21 6 0 77.78% List
Penrith NRL 2004 22 12 24 / 34 70.59% - 96 14 8 0 63.64% List
Penrith NRL 2005 23 11 73 / 102 71.57% - 190 11 12 0 47.83% List
Penrith NRL 2006 24 7 67 / 92 72.83% 1 163 10 14 0 41.67% List
Gold Coast NRL 2007 18 2 17 / 21 80.95% - 42 7 11 0 38.89% List
Gold Coast NRL 2008 21 4 2 / 2 100.00% - 20 9 12 0 42.86% List
Gold Coast NRL 2009 25 5 -   - 20 15 10 0 60.00% List
Gold Coast NRL 2010 20 3 5 / 5 100.00% - 22 11 9 0 55.00% List
Gold Coast NRL 2011 19 1 11 / 14 78.57% - 26 5 14 0 26.32% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Gold Coast 1998 14 4 -   - 16 2 12 0 14.29% List
Cronulla 1999-02 54 24 24 / 39 61.54% - 144 29 23 2 53.70% List
Penrith 2003-06 96 43 220 / 305 72.13% 1 613 56 40 0 58.33% List
Gold Coast 2007-11 103 15 35 / 42 83.33% - 130 47 56 0 45.63% List
Overall1998-2011 267 86 279 / 386 72.28% 1 903 134 131 2 50.19% List

Your Say

  • Mark
    10/03/2011

    Preston is a great player, I am surprised he hasn't played State of Origin or Test footy. I am rapt he is going to play in 2011. Wish him all the best!

  • Courty
    16/08/2011

    The best ambassador the game of rugby league has ever had. A real fans player & a champion bloke.

  • Anonymous
    23/07/2014

    hes a great player and a great role model. i want to meet him.

  • Christine
    19/06/2016

    I taught Preston in Tingha back in 1985. Smallest in class but he has proven to be a giant. Well done mate!!!

  • Pete Williams
    16/12/2017

    To see that he played 267 NRL games is an amazing amount of games for a player so small. 1 more season and a few more games under an unappreciative coach in Chris Anderson at Cronulla he would have gotten to 300.

  • Ernie ball
    13/06/2018

    One of the finest Aussie players not to represent his country. Would have been a world better in any team for any of the league countries.Just a magnificent player.

  • Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.

Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, AJ Lucantonio, Bill Bates

Sources: NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2001, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2002, NRL 2004 Official Rugby League Annual, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2000, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2004, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1999, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2003, 2006 Official Rugby League Annual