Petero Civoniceva ( (Thee-vo-nee-thee-vah); born 21 April 1976), is a Fijian-Australian former professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...

footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative prop forward, in 2009 he broke the record for most international matches for Australia of any forward in history. Civoniceva played his club football for the

Brisbane Broncos The Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club Ltd., commonly referred to as the Broncos, is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in April 1987, the Broncos play in Australia's elite c ...

, with whom he won the

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from S ...

and 2006 NRL Premierships, as well as for the

Penrith Panthers The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the NRL. The team is based west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrit ...

, whom he captained. Late in his career whilst playing for the

Redcliffe Dolphins The Redcliffe Dolphins are a semi-professional rugby league club based in Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1947, they were accepted into the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) premiership competition in 1960, and since 1996 have played i ...

in the

Queensland Cup The Queensland Cup, currently known as the Hostplus Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level regional rugby league football competition in Queensland, Australia. It is run by the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and is contested by fou ...

, Civoniceva captained the Fiji national team in their

2013 Rugby League World Cup The 2013 Rugby League World Cup was the fourteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and took place in England, Wales, France and Ireland. between 26 October and 30 November 2013. It was the main event of the year's Festival of World ...

campaign. The Petero Civoniceva Medal is awarded to the Australian Fijian

footballer of the year, while the Civoniceva Medal is awarded to the

player voted as the best and fairest.

Early life

Civoniceva was born in Suva, Fiji, where his father, Petero Sr, was a

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

player. Civoniceva's parents moved to

Redcliffe, Queensland Redcliffe is a town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. It also refers colloquially to the Redcliffe Peninsula as a whole, a peninsula jutting into Moreton Bay which contains several ...

before his first birthday. There he attended Humpybong State School, then

Redcliffe State High School Redcliffe State High School is an independent co-educational public high school based in Redcliffe in Queensland, Australia. The school initially opened in 1958 on the eastern side of Oxley Avenue, with sporting facilities on the land adjacent ...

before finishing his senior schooling at Frawley College, now known as Southern Cross Catholic College. He played junior football for the

until 1994.

Playing career

Domestic career

Brisbane Broncos

After playing 39 reserve grade games he began his NRL career as a with the Brisbane Broncos. He won the club's ''Rookie of the Year'' award in

and went on to play from the bench in Brisbane's 1998 NRL grand final win at the end of the season. Civoniceva missed the Broncos

grand final Primarily in Australian sports, a grand final (sometimes colloquially abbreviated to "grannie") is a game that decides a sports league's premiership (or championship) winning team, i.e. the conclusive game of a finals (or play-off) series. S ...

victory in 2000 due to injury, as well as Australia's 2000 World Cup campaign. Having won the

2000 NRL Premiership The 2000 NRL season was the 93rd season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the third to be run by the National Rugby League. Fourteen teams competed from February till August for the NRL Premiership, culminating in the 2000 ...

, the Broncos travelled to England to play against 2000's Super League V Champions, St Helens R.F.C. for the

2001 World Club Challenge The 2001 World Club Challenge was contested between Super League V champions, St. Helens and 2000 NRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. The Broncos made the trip to England to play St Helens before the start of the 2001 NRL and Super Leagu ...

, with Civoniceva playing at prop forward in Brisbane's loss. Civoniceva won the Brisbane club's coveted ''Player of the Year'' award in 2004. He was the 2006 Brisbane Broncos season's player of the year and he played at prop in the Broncos'

2006 NRL Grand Final The 2006 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the NRL's 2006 Telstra Premiership season. It was played between the first-placed Melbourne Storm and the third-placed Brisbane Broncos clubs on the night of Sunday, 1 ...

victory. As 2006 NRL Premiers, the

travelled to England to face 2006 Super League champions, St Helens R.F.C. in the

2007 World Club Challenge The 2007 Carnegie World Club Challenge was played between Super League XI champions, St. Helens and 2006 National Rugby League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos. It was a replay of the 2001 World Club Challenge, and both clubs' fifth WCC appeara ...

. Civoniceva played as a prop forward in the Broncos' 14–18 loss against St Helens, During the

2007 NRL season The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League. Sixteen teams contested the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, and with the inclusio ...

, at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Civoniceva. In round 8 of

NRL season 2007 The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League. Sixteen teams contested the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, and with the inclusio ...

, Civoniceva played his 200th game for the Brisbane club, becoming only the eighth Broncos player to ever do so. Civoniceva's

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...

contract ended at the conclusion of the 2007 season. The

Broncos A bucking horse is any breed or either gender of horse with a propensity to buck. They have been, and still are, referred to by various names, including bronco, broncho, and roughstock. The harder they buck, the more desirable they are for rod ...

decision to withdraw the contract to the

prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinc ...

was due to

salary cap In professional sports, a salary cap (or wage cap) is an agreement or rule that places a limit on the amount of money that a team can spend on players' salaries. It exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both. Sever ...

restrictions.

Penrith Panthers

Civoniceva signed to play for the

for the 2008 season. The deal was for 2 years with an option for a third and was believed to be worth $370,000 a year. Civoniceva's move to

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

and another NRL team rather than relocating to England allowed him to continue to be available to represent both Australia and

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

. In January 2008, Penrith Panthers announced Civoniceva as captain of the team for 2008. His deal with Penrith was set to expire at the end of the 2009 NRL season. Petero Civoniceva

He re-signed with Penrith until the end of 2012. He went on to play in Queensland's State of Origin victories in game 1 and then game 2, but suffered a season-ending foot injury in the first half of the second match. In the

2010 NRL Premiership The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 Octobe ...

, Civoniceva led the Panthers to second place on the ladder at the conclusion of the season, but in the penultimate round of the season he was sent off for a high tackle against the

Bulldogs The Bulldog is a British breed of dog of mastiff type. It may also be known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog. It is of medium size, a muscular, hefty dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose. As a result, he missed Penrith's first qualifying final, where, despite a brave effort, the Panthers lost by just two points against the

Canberra Raiders The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby ...

. In Round 5 of the

2011 NRL season The 2011 NRL season was the 104th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth and last run by the National Rugby League's partnership committee of the Australian Rugby League and News Ltd. The N ...

, Civoniceva scored his first try since Round 8, 2008, against the

in the 36–10 thrashing at

Centrebet Stadium Penrith Stadium (known commercially as BlueBet Stadium) is a rugby league and association football stadium located in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. The 22,500 capacity venue is the home ground for the Penrith Panthers who play in the Na ...

. He was one of the stars of Queensland's victory in Origin 1, 2011, running for more than 150 m and outperforming the NSW forwards. Civoniceva scored his second try of the season in Round 16 against the

North Queensland Cowboys The North Queensland Cowboys is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, the largest town in North Queensland. They compete in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL). Sinc ...

, which was a 30–20 victory by the Panthers. The try involved a skilful left foot step from close range that left several Cowboys players, including

Matthew Bowen Matthew Jeremy Bowen (born 9 March 1982) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australia international and Queensland State of Origin representative , he played in the National Rugby ...

, grasping at thin air. This was the Women in League round, and also the rookie coach, Steve Georgallis' first game as coach for the Penrith Panthers. Civoniceva's stint at Penrith ended on a low, with the Panthers failing to qualify for the semi-finals, and thrashed by the St. George Illawarra Dragons, 32–12, at Round 26. Civoniceva also succumbed to a torn pectoral muscle injury during the 22nd minute of the game.

Return to Brisbane

On 26 July 2011, it was announced that the Penrith Panthers released Civoniceva from the final year of his contract, within the week, it was announced that he had signed to return to his original club, the

on a one-year deal. On 8 May 2012, Civoniceva announced his retirement effective at the conclusion of the 2012 season. Civoniceva was selected to play for Queensland in the 2012 State of Origin series. During the

2012 NRL season The 2012 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league club competition in Australia, and the first run by the newly formed Australian Rugby League Commission. The main competition, called the 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership due to spon ...

Civoniceva became the 17th player in premiership history to play 300 games. The third and deciding match of the 2012 State of Origin series, a Maroons victory which sealed an unprecedented seventh consecutive series for Queensland, was Civoniceva's last. Played at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, it featured a post-match farewell speech for Civoniceva.

Redcliffe Dolphins

Civoniceva announced he would play for the

in the

during the 2013 season.

International career

His international and State of Origin debuts followed during 2001. At the end of the

2001 NRL season The 2001 NRL season was the 94th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fourth run by the National Rugby League. Also called the 2001 Telstra Premiership (due to sponsorship from Telstra Corporation) it was contested b ...

, he went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour. Following the

2003 NRL season The 2003 NRL premiership was the 96th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the sixth run by the National Rugby League. Fifteen teams competed, with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles returning in place of their failed join ...

, Civoniceva played in the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, helping Australia to victory over

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It i ...

in what would be the last time the two nations contested an

Ashes series The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The term originated in a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, ''The Sporting Times'', immediately after Australia's 1882 victory at The Oval, its first Te ...

. Civoniceva was selected in the Australian team to compete in the end of season

2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations The second Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament (known as the Gillette Tri-Nations due to sponsorship) was contested between 16 October and 27 November of 2004. The format of the competition differed from the previous event in that the teams played ...

tournament. In the final game against

he played prop forward in the Kangaroos' 44–4 victory. Civoniceva was again selected to play for the Australia national team as a prop forward the 2007 ANZAC Test match victory against New Zealand. In August 2008, Civoniceva was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the

2008 Rugby League World Cup The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since its inauguration in 1954, and the first since the 2000 tournament. The tournament was held in Australia from 26 October, culminating in the final ...

, and in October 2008 he was selected in the final 24-man Australia squad. Civoniceva was selected for Australia in the one-off test match against

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

on 8 May 2009. After sitting out the remainder of the NRL season, his next match was for Australia against New Zealand in the opening match of the 2009 Four Nations in London. By playing in the final, a victory against England, Civoniceva became the first forward in history to play forty internationals for Australia. For the 2010 ANZAC Test, Civoniceva was selected to play for Australia as a prop forward in their victory against

. At the end of 2013 he was selected to travel to the United Kingdom and represent Fiji, the country of his birth, in the

. In May 2014, Petero played for Fiji in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League International. He was a late inclusion into the side, he wore the no.18 playing jersey. Later on in the year, Petero became an assistant coach, assisting main coach Rick Stone.

References

External links

*
Penrith Panthers profile
*
2001 Ashes profile

''Big Petero up with the best, say greats'' – nrl.com article, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 – 4:38 PM2017 RLWC profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Civoniceva, Petero 1976 births Living people Australia national rugby league team players Australian people of I-Taukei Fijian descent Australian rugby league players Brisbane Broncos captains Brisbane Broncos players Fiji national rugby league team captains Fiji national rugby league team players Fijian emigrants to Australia Fijian rugby league players Kaiviti Silktails NRL All Stars players Penrith Panthers players Penrith Panthers captains Prime Minister's XIII captains Prime Minister's XIII players Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players Redcliffe Dolphins players Rugby league props Sportspeople from Suva People from Yasawa