Andy
First Grade
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As found on nrl.com
Pocket rocket Preston Campbell has issued a challenge to Newcastle's big men - run straight at him during tomorrow night's NRL season-opener at Penrith Stadium.
That sort of treatment is nothing new for the 165cm, 70kg Panthers five-eighth, but he believes he's ready for the onslaught after working on his defensive technique and strength during the off-season.
Campbell will be in the firing line against the Newcastle pack led by internationals Ben Kennedy and Steve Simpson, with props Adam Woolnough and Josh Perry sure to also test out the pint-sized pivot.
"They'll definitely run at me," said Campbell today.
"Teams did it last year, they'll do it again this year.
"I sort of worked on my strength and my technique a bit in the off-season so hopefully that'll come good for me.
"It would be good (if they ran at me), just to see how it goes.
"It went pretty well against the Warriors in the trial game and didn't go so well against Bradford in the (World) Club Challenge but hopefully it'll go alright against the Knights."
English Super League champions Bradford defeated Penrith in the WCC last month in England, mainly by keeping the ball away from Penrith's mobile forwards and running at smaller men like Campbell and fullback Rhys Wesser.
Campbell said he had worked especially hard on his positional play in defence.
"I did a lot more work on my shoulders and the techniques in positional play," the 26-year-old said.
"Not so much where I'll stick my shoulder but where I'm going to stand before I go into the tackle."
Tomorrow night Knights skipper will make his first grade comeback from a serious neck injury sustained in August while Kennedy (ankle) and Matt Parsons (finger) have been cleared to play.
Newcastle coach Michael Hagan said he held no fears over Kennedy being overdone leading into what promises to be a top-shelf match.
Test back-rower Kennedy only recently gained a clearance to play after a three-month rehabilitation program to repair a tendon in his left foot before hurting his ankle playing volleyball.
"You'd be underestimating his ability if you were concerned about him," Hagan said about the 29-year-old.
"We can manage his time a bit if we have to."
Likewise, Hagan said Johns was "pretty confident" about his neck after performing well in a trial against North Queensland two weeks ago.
"He's a lot more relaxed and happy to get that trial out of the road," said the Queensland coach.
Knights fullback Robbie O'Davis today revealed that Johns loved playing against his opposite number, Test half Craig Gower.
"He talks him up at training all the time and he likes his style of football," explained O'Davis tonight.
"He likes his skill level and the way he plays."
Gower said the Panthers must be careful not to focus too much energy on Johns.
"He's always going to be a focus when he's in the side because he's such a good player but ... they've got great attacking ability all over the park," Gower said.
"If defensively we're strong, I think we'll come away with it."
The Knights have lost interchange forward Andrew Price (hamstring), with Todd Lowrie replacing him, while the Panthers will be close to full-strength, missing only Test centre Ryan Girdler (pleurisy).
Pocket rocket Preston Campbell has issued a challenge to Newcastle's big men - run straight at him during tomorrow night's NRL season-opener at Penrith Stadium.
That sort of treatment is nothing new for the 165cm, 70kg Panthers five-eighth, but he believes he's ready for the onslaught after working on his defensive technique and strength during the off-season.
Campbell will be in the firing line against the Newcastle pack led by internationals Ben Kennedy and Steve Simpson, with props Adam Woolnough and Josh Perry sure to also test out the pint-sized pivot.
"They'll definitely run at me," said Campbell today.
"Teams did it last year, they'll do it again this year.
"I sort of worked on my strength and my technique a bit in the off-season so hopefully that'll come good for me.
"It would be good (if they ran at me), just to see how it goes.
"It went pretty well against the Warriors in the trial game and didn't go so well against Bradford in the (World) Club Challenge but hopefully it'll go alright against the Knights."
English Super League champions Bradford defeated Penrith in the WCC last month in England, mainly by keeping the ball away from Penrith's mobile forwards and running at smaller men like Campbell and fullback Rhys Wesser.
Campbell said he had worked especially hard on his positional play in defence.
"I did a lot more work on my shoulders and the techniques in positional play," the 26-year-old said.
"Not so much where I'll stick my shoulder but where I'm going to stand before I go into the tackle."
Tomorrow night Knights skipper will make his first grade comeback from a serious neck injury sustained in August while Kennedy (ankle) and Matt Parsons (finger) have been cleared to play.
Newcastle coach Michael Hagan said he held no fears over Kennedy being overdone leading into what promises to be a top-shelf match.
Test back-rower Kennedy only recently gained a clearance to play after a three-month rehabilitation program to repair a tendon in his left foot before hurting his ankle playing volleyball.
"You'd be underestimating his ability if you were concerned about him," Hagan said about the 29-year-old.
"We can manage his time a bit if we have to."
Likewise, Hagan said Johns was "pretty confident" about his neck after performing well in a trial against North Queensland two weeks ago.
"He's a lot more relaxed and happy to get that trial out of the road," said the Queensland coach.
Knights fullback Robbie O'Davis today revealed that Johns loved playing against his opposite number, Test half Craig Gower.
"He talks him up at training all the time and he likes his style of football," explained O'Davis tonight.
"He likes his skill level and the way he plays."
Gower said the Panthers must be careful not to focus too much energy on Johns.
"He's always going to be a focus when he's in the side because he's such a good player but ... they've got great attacking ability all over the park," Gower said.
"If defensively we're strong, I think we'll come away with it."
The Knights have lost interchange forward Andrew Price (hamstring), with Todd Lowrie replacing him, while the Panthers will be close to full-strength, missing only Test centre Ryan Girdler (pleurisy).
