Campese out for 9 months

Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese has been ruled out for nine months with a knee injury suffered in last weekend’s semi final with Wests Tigers.

Campese, 26, was stretchered off with a torn ACL in the 55th minute of the encounter and will now undergo a lengthy rehabilitation.

The New South Wales Origin player has opted to undergo traditional knee surgery instead of more advanced techniques which could allow for a quicker recovery.

“I still have five years left at the club and I don’t want to risk doing it again so I’ve decided to get the traditional surgery and take the nine months to recover and hopefully come back faster and stronger,” Campese said.

“It was devastating to go out that way especially in such an important game with 20 minutes to go, but a lot of people have been through this and come out the other side so I just have to put my head down and work hard to get back.

“I thought about the alternative and its only three months and I could be back before the start of the season, but there’s too many risks involved so I’ve decided to go with the traditional way,” he said. “I’ve basically made the decision myself and the doctors and coaching staff has backed me.

“It’s the right thing to do considering I still have 5-7 years left in my career at least so I want to make sure its right.”