Playmaker Terry Campese has been welcomed back to the Canberra fold and is set to be a key player for the Raiders in the 2015 NRL season, according to representative forward Josh Papalii.

Campese’s future in the nation’s capital has been the source of much speculation since he was a no-show when the Raiders returned to pre-season training last month.

The club said the 30-year-old veteran of 139 NRL games requested an extra month’s break before beginning his 2015 campaign, while sources close to the former Kangaroo were reported to have said he was told not to show up.

But Australian forward Papalii, who scored a try in a robust performance in the Kangaroos 44-18 win over Samoa on Sunday which booked them a berth in Saturday’s Four Nations final against New Zealand, said Campese will play with the club next year.

“They (Raiders management) decided he is going to be back,” Papalii told AAP.

“Having Campo there, he definitely brings the team together, it is a big boost knowing that he is going to be there for next year, so I can’t wait to get back there and hopefully play some good footy as a team.

“I still think he is a top class player, no one can kick like he does and he is a big five-eighth so it helps with out size as well.

“Beside the on field his performance, off the field he looks after the young boys and he is definitely one man I would pretty much do anything for.

“Campo is a big part of the Raiders and of our team.”

Campese had a lacklustre year in 2014 under new coach Ricky Stuart, but injury free he remains an NRL threat and has one year remaining on his contract with the Raiders.

Papalii will have a break after the Four Nations final but said he was positive about the Raiders chances in 2015,

“We have made some good signings and I can’t wait to get into it,” he said.

Blake Austin (Wests Tigers), Josh Hodgson (Hull Kingston Rovers), Iosia Soliola (St Helens RLFC), Sisa Waqa (Melbourne) and Sam Williams (Catalan Dragons) are the Raiders acquisitions for next NRL season.