Preston Campbell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Preston Campbell
OAM

Campbell playing in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Thomas Leon Preston Campbell
Born	(1977-06-07) 7 June 1977 (age 48) Inverell, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight	73 kg (11 st 7 lb)
Position	Five-eighth, Fullback, Halfback, Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1998 Gold Coast Chargers 14 4 0 0 16 1999–02 Cronulla Sharks 54 24 24 0 144 2003–06 Penrith Panthers 96 43 220 1 613 2007–11 Gold Coast Titans 103 15 35 0 130 Total 267 86 279 1 903 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2005–07 NSW Country 3 0 0 0 0 2008 Dreamtime Team 1 0 0 0 0 2010 Indigenous All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Relatives	Jayden Campbell (son) Nathan Blacklock (cousin) Greg Inglis (cousin)

Preston Campbell (born June 7, 1977) is a famous Australian former professional rugby league player. He played as a five-eighth or fullback in the National Rugby League (NRL). Preston played for teams like the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Penrith Panthers, and Gold Coast Titans. He even won the 2003 NRL premiership with the Penrith Panthers! Many people think he is one of the best players who never got to play in the big State of Origin series.

Preston Campbell's Rugby League Journey

Starting Out in Rugby League

Preston Campbell was born in Inverell, New South Wales. He began his rugby league journey with a junior club called the Inverell Hawks. In 1998, he made his first big debut in the NRL with the Gold Coast Chargers. He played as a fullback for them. Sadly, the Chargers team was closed down at the end of that season.

Time with the Cronulla Sharks

After the Gold Coast Chargers, Preston joined the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 1999. For his first two years, he mostly played in the reserve team. He would sometimes fill in for injured players in the main team. In 2001, he really showed how good he was. He stepped in as a fullback when David Peachey was injured.

Preston was super fast and great at dodging players. Fans loved him because he was small but very skilled, and he was also humble. People thought he might go back to the lower teams, but his coach, John Lang, had other plans. Lang saw that Preston was too talented to be in the reserves.

When David Peachey returned, Preston was no longer needed at fullback. The Cronulla team also needed a good halfback. So, Coach Lang decided to try Preston in the halfback role. Preston, David Peachey, and Adam Dykes formed an amazing team. They helped Cronulla play really well and almost reach the finals in 2001. They even beat the strong Newcastle Knights team in one memorable game.

At the end of 2001, Preston Campbell won the Dally M Player of the Year award. This is a huge award in rugby league! He beat Andrew Johns, who was the captain of the Newcastle Knights, by just one point. He became the third player from Cronulla to win this award.

In 2002, a new coach, Chris Anderson, and a new halfback, Brett Kimmorley, joined the club. Preston was not chosen for his favorite halfback position. Instead, he was moved to a new position called hooker. After a few tough games, he was moved back to the reserve team. Preston wanted to play in his preferred position, so he asked to leave Cronulla. He was allowed to leave in August 2002.

Winning with the Penrith Panthers

On August 7, 2002, it was announced that Preston Campbell would join the Penrith Panthers. His old coach, John Lang, was coaching the Panthers. Preston was excited to play for Lang again, even though he wasn't promised a specific position.

In 2003, his first year with the Penrith Panthers, Preston played as a halfback or five-eighth. He was a huge help to the team. He played every minute of every game that season.

Preston played five-eighth in the 2003 NRL grand final. His team, the Panthers, won the championship! He also kicked two goals in that game. Because they won the NRL, the Panthers traveled to England to play against the Super League VIII champions, the Bradford Bulls. This game was called the 2004 World Club Challenge. Preston played five-eighth in that game, but the Panthers lost 22–4.

Joining the Gold Coast Titans

In 2005, Preston Campbell became the very first player to sign with a brand new NRL team, the Gold Coast Titans. He signed a three-year contract that started in 2007. In 2007, because other players like Chris Walker were injured, Preston played a lot of the season as a fullback.

Training with the Aboriginal Dreamtime Team, 2008

Preston played very well in 2007 and continued his great form into 2008. He signed a longer contract with the Titans. In 2008, he was named the Gold Coast Titans' Player of the Year. This was because he played consistently well and inspired his team. In 2009, he played in different positions like halfback, five-eighth, and fullback. This was due to injuries to players like Scott Prince and Mat Rogers.

Preston Campbell stopped playing professional rugby league at the end of the 2011 season. In 2019, he was honored as the first life member of the Gold Coast Titans.

Awards and Recognition

In November 2008, the NRL gave Preston Campbell the Ken Stephen Medal. This award is for players who do amazing work for the game, both on and off the field. Preston received it for his hard work with Indigenous communities.

In 2023, Preston Campbell was given the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This award recognized his great contributions to rugby league.

Family Life

Preston Campbell has some famous relatives! His cousins are Nathan Blacklock and Greg Inglis, who are also well-known rugby league players. Preston's son, Jayden Campbell, also plays as a fullback for the Gold Coast Titans.