Italy fume as Raiders pull Campo - Fox Sports

Terry Campese in action for the Raiders. Source: Sam Ruttyn / DailyTelegraph

THE Italian Rugby League has accused new Canberra coach Ricky Stuart of forcing star player Terry Campese to withdraw from the Azzurri World Cup squad.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained an email from Canberra dated September 12 approving Campese’s availability for the tournament in England and Wales.

A second email from Canberra football manager John Bonasera was then sent to Italian officials on October 3, pulling Campese from the World Cup because of injury.

Stuart signed with Canberra on September 16, in between the two emails being sent.

Stuart on Tuesday night fired back, saying: “I didn’t make the final decision on Terry. Terry did.

“My main concern is the Canberra Raiders, not the Italian rugby league team.’’

Bonasera’s initial email to Italy football manager Reno Santaguida reads: “Further to your request both Paul Vaughan (Canberra player) and Terry Campese are free to compete in the World Cup representing Italy.’’

That changed dramatically on October 3 when Bonasera then emailed Santaguida, saying: “Terry has had four operations on his left knee including two knee reconstructions, an ITB transfer and an arthroscope and has had a successful lateral meniscus repair but been left with a medial meniscectomy.

"The knee is always swollen and it has only a limited number of miles left in it. Another ruptured ACL in that knee and our club doctor feels that his career would most likely be over.

“If he goes to the World Cup he will not have that rest period and our doctor envisages this would then worsen in what would be left of the pre-season. This would then transfer into the regular season next year.

“It is recommended that he have a rest now so the right knee patellar tendon enthesopathy will have a chance to recover.’’

Santaguida told The Daily Telegraph he had no doubt Stuart was behind Campese’s decision.

“Campo was officially in, 100 per cent. He had signed the World Cup documentation,’’ he said.

“I feel for Campo. He got pressured by a new coach. He had to choose between club and country.

“The first letter was sent before Ricky signed with Canberra, the second came after Ricky had signed.

“Campo had the heat put on him through Ricky Stuart. He was told he had to rest. When was the last competition game? Five weeks ago.

“We even said he didn’t have to play our trial against England. That means he would have had a seven-week break between games. He will be back in pre-season training while we are away so it makes no sense using his knee as an excuse.’’

Santaguida said the World Cup needs elite players like Campese.

“If the international game is to go forward, we need players like Terry Campese playing,’’ he said. “Why couldn’t we get his knee medically assessed?

“A lot of players are pulling out for the same reason. It is absolutely ridiculous.’’

Meanwhile Italy have successfully lobbied to have prop Kade Snowden serve an NRL suspension in the England trial match on October 19.