He has played Test rugby, in the NRL for a decade and even played in State of Origin: but Terry Campese is in no doubt about where Saturday’s Million Pound Game ranks in terms of his own career.
“After the siren goes, it’s probably bigger than any other game I’ve ever played,” he admits. “If you lose, you’ve still got your job. This week you don’t. That’s the scary thing about it. You try not to think about it but it’s hard not to with having a young family.”
This week, the focus has been on the Million Pound Game following calls from Campese’s team-mate, Ben Cockayne, that it is a “disgrace” to the sport.
With a year left on his existing deal, Campese faces the prospect of being unemployed come Saturday evening: and he admits the game does not sit comfortably with him, either.
“I’m pretty sure that’s the case, that contracts become null and void,” he says. “You either have to renegotiate or move on I think, that’s the way I see it: haven’t been told otherwise. I didn’t like the concept when I first heard about it last year; I don’t think this works. The team that finishes bottom gets off, which was Huddersfield this year.”
However, Campese insists he’s taken comfort from the support he’s received this week – some of it from an unlikely source.
“I went to my son’s rugby on Sunday and there were a few FC fans there that have kids in his team and they want us to stay up as well because of the derby and the rivalry – it brings the town together,” he admits. “It’s important to a town like Hull. Hopefully we’ll put in a performance that gives these people the derby next year.”