TERRY CAMPESE's uncle, some former Wallaby, was always derided for his defensive inadequacies, but the Canberra five-eighth helped to bring some respect back to the surname last night when it came to stopping players rather than stepping them.

Campese's defensive effort was mammoth, making 19 tackles in the first half for a game haul of 31. He was stoic, but that effort was also one of the main reasons the Raiders suffered so badly from opening-night nerves last night.

Cronulla aimed their attack at Campese, and he stopped them most of the time, but the tactic had a silver lining for the Sharks.

Campese was not able to offer the glittering attacking spark that had netted him 10 tries this season and set up countless more. In doing so, the boys in blue offered a blueprint for how to shut down the Canberra attack, renowned as one of the best in the premiership.

It's not exactly a new tactic to aim your attack at the chief playmaker, but the Sharks certainly made Campese defend more than he has throughout the memorable spell in which the Raiders rose to sixth place.

The 24-year-old's tackle haul last night, shaded only by Raiders skipper Alan Tongue with 38, was possibly more than uncle David's entire career tally.

They targeted him and Terry didn't run as much as he probably normally does.