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Gold Coast fullback Jayden Campbell is back in first grade and eager to turn around the Titans' NRL season after a starring display against St George Illawarra.
Gold Coast fullback Jayden Campbell wants his impressive NRL return against St George Illawarra to just be the start of a successful run in the Titans' No.1 jersey.
The 22-year-old was at the heart of everything for the Titans in Saturday's dramatic Magic Round golden-point win over the Dragons.
In his first appearance since suffering a rib injury against Canberra in round three, Campbell clocked up a game-high 266 running metres, made one electrifying line break and 13 tackle busts as the Titans ended a run of five straight defeats.
Having played a key hand in Jamayne Isaako's 89th-minute winning try, Campbell is hopeful a stable run in the team for him, five-eighth AJ Brimson and halfback Toby Sexton can deliver the results coach Justin Holbrook was hoping for from his young spine heading into the 2022 season.
"We've only played two and a half games now together and we've won two out of the three," Campbell said.
"I think we can take some confidence out of that.
"Every week's not going to be easy, but we can take some confidence out of the two from three and keep pushing the boys, start steering them around a little bit more."
Campbell's eye-catching display didn't go unnoticed by some of the game's greatest with Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater both leaving Campbell starstruck after personally praising him in the Suncorp Stadium tunnel after Saturday's win.
"They're fellas I used to watch on TV and I used to look up to," Campbell said.
"For them to walk past and say that, just makes me happy."
And the son of former NRL star Preston Campbell is now determined to make the most of the opportunity after coming through the first real setback in his burgeoning career, having been forced to regain confidence and fitness in Queensland Cup after recovering from his rib issue.
"Coming from first grade and going back to Q-Cup, that wasn't me being dropped in a way but it just makes you miss top grade and makes you want to play harder so you don't go back to that level," he said.
"I feel like it's made me a better player."
