“He was chucked in a position he wasn’t really familiar with this year that’s a pretty specialised and specific position, and I thought he did a pretty good job. Speaking to him, he sees himself as a potential halfback moving forward.
“He made an impact on games when he needed to, and that’s what the really good halfbacks do. He showed some things that tell me he could be in that position long-term.”
Much of how Campbell fares in 2026 will depend on the players incoming coach Josh Hannay puts around him, particularly regarding his halves partner.
The retirement of Kieran Foran has left a void at the scrumbase, one which has grown larger as Wallabies convert Carter Gordon makes his return to rugby union having been granted a release.
AJ Brimson was tried in the No.6 jumper at the start of the 2025 season with Foran sidelined through injury, but found a home at fullback following Keano Kini’s neck concerns.
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The former Queensland Maroon then made an impact at centre in the final game of the campaign – scoring twice against Wests Tigers.
Preston admitted his remarkable rise as a premier halfback while playing for Cronulla came courtesy of his five-eighth, Adam Dykes, who he lauded as “one of the best players in the competition”.
But while he was given the luxury of being able to “play the footy I knew how to play”, rather than announce himself as the dominant game manager, he believed in time Campbell would blossom into that figure.
“Having somebody like that [Dykes] outside or inside you is really important, so I never really thought to be that person to take the game by the throat and manage it in a way a lot of the top halfbacks do,” Preston said.
“Jayden has that opportunity … but it does come down to patience. Jayden’s one of those guys who doesn’t have a lot of patience, he just likes the ball in his hands and like to run with it.
“To know when to pass, to know when to hold onto it, to know when to kick it – it takes a lot of practice and a lot of education sitting down and doing your homework on the game.
“He’s at that stage in his career now where he’s ready to do that.”
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