Petero Civoniceva on his journey from struggling rugby league rookie to the NRL Hall of Fame

FROM turning down an offer from Queensland’s iconic rugby league Immortal to making Wayne Bennett eat his words, Petero Civoniceva has battled all the way in the NRL Hall of Fame.

PETERO Civoniceva still remembers the moment like it was yesterday.

The day he was forced to knock back a shot at the big time, offered by Queensland’s iconic rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson, because his family were too poor.

Civoniceva is famed for his decorated career with the Broncos, but well before Brisbane came knocking, “Big Artie” — Queensland’s first Origin captain who was crowned an Immortal in 2003 — tried to sign him.

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Petero Civoniceva had to work for every inch. (Adam Head)

Beetson was working as a recruitment scout for the Sydney Roosters in the mid-1990s when he laid eyes on a hulking Fijian teenager playing in the Redcliffe juniors.

Artie gave a young Civoniceva the opportunity of a lifetime — the chance to trial for a Roosters contract. There was just one catch — Civoniceva had to find a way to fund a trip to Sydney.

“Arthur Beetson was the first guy to show interest in me,” recalls Civoniceva, who will be one of six players inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame at the SCG.

Petero proved he was good enough for Brisbane.

“I actually played with Artie’s son, Mark, at Redcliffe. We were teammates in the juniors so Artie would be at our games watching.

“For me being a young kid, I knew of Artie and I knew of his legend, but it wasn’t until I was older that I could really appreciate what he did for the game and how great he was.

“Artie gave me an offer to go to the Roosters to be part of a development camp, but at the time, mum couldn’t afford to get me down there.

“She was a single parent and basically we didn’t have the money.”

Celebrating the Broncos’ ‘98 triumph.

However, Tima Civoniceva was rich on values and she taught her son the benefits of hard work and never giving up.

Even when Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett questioned whether a 17-year-old Civoniceva could make the grade, the rookie pledged to keep fighting until the day he wore a Broncos jumper.

In the end, Civoniceva stood the test of time, playing a remarkable 15 seasons in the code’s toughest position, the front row. He amassed 309 first-grade games, 33 Origin matches for Queensland and 45 Tests for Australia.

Former Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer, who could tonight join Beetson as an NRL Immortal, rates Civoniceva the most fearless player he ever saw.

Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price in 2008.

“I’m just so honoured to be in the Hall of Fame, I will always appreciate what rugby league has given me,” Civoniceva said.

“I owe a lot to the women in my life.

“I had a great role model in my mum Tima, and my wife Bonnie has been the rock in my life.

“We met as 16-year-olds and we now have four kids (Tallulah, 14, Ruby, 12, Kaden, 11 and Jacobi, 10).

“When I had to leave the Broncos (in 2007), we weren’t too sure what would happen at Penrith but we took on the move as a family and had a great time in the end.

“Bonnie has put up with a lot of rugby league over the years, so I’m glad she will be beside me on the night.”

Civoniceva admits he is “humbled” to be added to the Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Ricky Stuart and former Broncos colleague Gorden Tallis.

“I never envisaged that my rugby league journey would end on this note,” he said.

“Just to make my first-grade debut was everything, it was the culmination of my childhood dreams and all the sacrifice.

“The Hall of Fame is just a great bonus.”

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