Canberra Raiders captain Terry Campese will enter the preselection race to become NSW Labor's Monaro candidate ahead of next year's state election.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said he approached the 38-year-old last year and was "thrilled" he was "prepared to answer the challenge". 

"This will be a tough seat for Labor to win in the upcoming state election, but it's my strong view that politics is best when we've got real people, genuine community activists, that sit in Parliament and represent their communities," Mr Minns said. 

The 38-year-old is largely known for a decade-long career as a Canberra Raiders player, and has served as the captain-coach of the Queanbeyan Blues since 2017.

He has also dedicated his time to charity work including the Terry Campese Foundation, a not-for-profit he founded supporting marginalised young people and as a community recovery officer during the Black Summer fires.

Mr Campese said he had been a swing voter before he started to vote for Labor "four or five years ago", and has recently joined the party. 

"It was the next step and the right time … I have a steep learning curve," Mr Campese said.

He said he wanted to invest in education and build a high school in Googong, south of Queanbeyan.

"Education is big for me. Everyone deserves a great education," he said.

"It's time for a fresh start in Monaro and I’m determined to ensure a Minns Labor Government delivers better schools and hospitals for our community." 

Mr Campese currently works at the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council as a community program coordinator. 

The Monaro electorate stretches from the ACT to the Victorian border, encompassing Queanbeyan, Cooma, and the NSW Snowy Mountains.

The seat was held by former NSW Nationals leader and deputy premier John Barilaro before his resignation triggered a by-election in February.

His replacement, Nationals MP Nichole Overall, became the first female member in the seat's 165-year history.