Greg Inglis was so anxious that he had to call his mother for some comfort after being given the privilege of presenting the Preston Campbell Medal following the 2023 Harvey Norman All Stars game in Rotorua.
You would think that awarding a medal would be easy for a man who represented Australia and Queensland in 263 NRL games, but Inglis wanted to make his little pal proud because he understands the importance of the man he was filling in for.
“I didn’t want to do it when I was first asked to do it; I think I got nervous,” Inglis said to NRL.com.
It’s a great honour; it’s similar to someone giving someone a Dally M or Clive Churchill medal. It’s the ultimate for gamers in this game.
Not only will Preston’s name always be associated with it, but his legacy will as well.
“I think that players will always want to win that medal and display it at home, regardless of what happens year after year.
“They can look back at it and tell a story about it—this is the guy who came up with the idea and this is how it all started.”
In addition to leading the inaugural Indigenous squad in 2010, Campbell spearheaded the All Stars idea, which aims to raise awareness of First Nations issues and promote Indigenous culture.
After seeing firsthand the response to the Aboriginal Dreamtime side that played at Sydney Football Stadium prior to the 2008 World Cup opener, the former Titans fullback persuaded officials to support the creation of an Indigenous All Stars team.
Inglis, who was 21 at the time, gave a speech on “Playing Fair” during the World Cup opening ceremony. All of the athletes and competitors were then welcomed with an Aboriginal smoking ceremony.
Campbell, who received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2023, has been praised for inspiring athletes like Inglis to make a difference off the pitch and for serving as a unifying voice for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Outside of the football pitch, he taught me a lot of things. “Your football will just come if you’re happy off the pitch; it all comes together,” Inglis, the founder of the Goanna Academy, stated.
“He has always been there in the background, even during my darkest moments.
His influence on the game itself, as well as on my family and me, has been enormous for such a small person.
“His name is Preston. Despite his very busy schedule, he always has time to talk. He only ever enquires about how you and your family are doing, never about football. He is that person.
The medal awarded in Campbell’s memory is becoming more and more prestigious, with an honour roll that includes two Jonathan Thurstons, James Fisher-Harris, Joseph Tapine, Brandon Smith, and Nicho Hynes.
With a heavy heart, Hynes took on the field in Rotorua in 2023 and gave an outstanding performance that made his “mob” and family proud.
“Going out there and playing for my people was extra special because Mum was going through a difficult time and I was thinking about quitting the game to be with my family, but Mum wanted me to play,” Hynes told NRL.com.
“Going there and making your mob proud is already a wonderful experience, but it meant much more than that given what was going on in my life at the moment.
It was very amazing to have Greg Inglis, who played a significant role in the early All Stars and has served as an excellent ambassador and role model for young Indigenous children throughout his career, deliver the medal.
“I can’t wait for this year after losing my first All Stars game and wanting to travel to New Zealand to ensure we won.”
During his team’s arduous 16-10 victory at CommBank Stadium in 2022, Māori co-captain Tapine stood tall with a try, 122 run meters, and seven tackle breaks.
In a year that ended with Dally M Prop of the Year and the Meninga Medal as Canberra’s top player, Tapine’s season-opening kickoff cemented that unique All Stars moment.
Tapine told NRL.com, “I’ve met Preston and he is just such a great ambassador for everything really, well-being especially.”
“Like a catapult into that season, winning that medal was huge for me, especially that year. In previous years, I felt like I was playing okay but didn’t really crack it.”
“I kind of had a confidence boost going into the season after that game and getting recognised with the medal, and I actually had a really good year.”
Winners of the Preston Campbell Medal
2010: Indigenous All Stars’ Jonathan Thurston
Josh Dugan (NRL All Stars) in 2011
Nathan Merritt of Indigenous All Stars (2012)
Ben Barba (Indigenous All Stars) in 2013
2014: Not held
George Rose, Indigenous All Stars, 2015.
James Graham (World All Stars) in 2016
Jonathan Thurston (Indigenous All Stars) in 2017
2018: Not held
Tyrone Roberts, an Indigenous All Star, in 2019
Brandon Smith (Māori All Stars) in 2020
2021: Māori All Stars’ James Fisher-Harris
Joseph Tapine (Māori All Stars) in 2022
Nicho Hynes (Indigenous All Sars) in 2023
Braydon Trindall of Indigenous All Stars in 2024
