Are Brisbane fielding draught horses or bucking broncos? We’ll find out when everything is on the line against the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp tonight, in what could be Petero Civoniceva’s last NRL game.
Six straight losses, for a team that was running second for a good part of the season, is a weird statistic, but the last three against Manly, Melbourne and Canterbury have been close-run games, suggesting that Brisbane is about to hit a patch of form.
Brisbane’s creativity – especially in their attacking quarter – has been lamentable for the past couple of months, but some key backline changes this week will trigger an enormous change for the better. Corey Norman is dangerous at five-eighth, Josh Hoffman is a lethal spearhead from his favourite fullback position and the talented Dale Copley makes a timely return from a leg fracture.
I’m tipping a Bronco win over unpredictable Penrith tonight, and it would not surprise if they get rolling and wreak some havoc in the finals series.
This team has the talent to romp from eighth spot right through to the grand final. The Brisbane defence tightened considerably in recent games against the title heavyweights, and if they can regain their old try-scoring flair they may well become the wild card in the finals pack.
Emotion will provide huge assistance for coach Anthony Griffin as he prepares his team for battle. More than 40,000 Brisbane faithful will be on hand to give warhorse prop Civoniceva a rousing home ground farewell.
The 36-year-old forward is nearing the end of a magnificent career, which deserves to be celebrated in finals football. If Brisbane falls down tonight, Suncorp will have the mood of a funeral parlour at full time.
Civoniceva this week received one of his greatest accolades from legendary South Sydney hard man, John Sattler. “He is the toughest player of his time,” Satts told The Courier Mail. “He is the goods.
“A lot of players today think they are tough, until they come up against Petero. He just wears his opponents down and runs over the top of them over the period of a game.
“He’s a bloody tough player. There has been some very tough forwards over the years. John O’Neill my old front row partner was tough, as was John Wittenberg and Kevin Ryan.
“When I say toughness, I don’t mean in terms of belting somebody. I mean someone who can take punishment and just back up, week after week, without complaining.
“Petero doesn’t talk it up, he just plays tough. That sorts the men from the boys and he’s the man for me.”
Sattler, who famously played 70 minutes of a grand final with a shattered jaw, said Civoniceva would have been just as dominant during league’s blood and guts era of the 1960s and 1970s.
“I wouldn’t have minded playing with Petero,” Sattler continued. “I think we would have had fun playing together.”
With lofty praise such as that, the Brisbane players should take a good look at their 36-year-old teammate before they run out tonight.
This giant of a man is already an all-time great of their club, with nigh on 250 games for the Broncos, and his achievements should warrant an extra-special effort from each one of them from now until their 2012 race is run.
Anything less would be an insult.
Meesta Cool
Guest
How pppp'd off did Petero look -- sat on the bench with 4 minutes to go .. yup, not much concern for a quality servant at Broncos.... I think that had just RUINED his night!.
NF
Guest
There should be 40,000 there tonight minimum considering it's the last Broncos home game & Petro's farewell. Bronco supporters need to get out there and support them as it could be there final game of 2012 will you be there oikee considering you rejected the Storm game a while back.
Gareth
Roar Pro
I can only imagine. Newcastle buy up pretty much every player, and then have a fire sale a few years later when the Fat Man needs cash and doesn't have the insurance payout on a stolen Ferrari to fall back on. Incidentally, if anyone is after a cheap thoroughbred...
oikee
Guest
And your problem with that.? They have big ambitions 'Newcastle',,, being shot down because of having to look after juniors. The Broncos, Parra, Penrith, Warriors, Newcastle, all clubs with huge junior bases, struggling, like wounded soldiers. When the tide turns, trust me, i will be calling for no prisoners, no Prisoners. Gengis Khan will look like a gentlemen compared to how ruthless i will be once the competition rights itself. If a club is struggling, i will be calling for a swift blow. Sentiment will be for the suckers. The lack of caring will be repeated and reminded to all by yours truely. You know me, i never forget the wrongs. No turning around to head back, we will take Europe. :)
Scott
Guest
Yeah sure, end the salary cap. Then Newcastle can buy every good player in the comp. I would have like to go to farewell big Pet on a Sunday afternoon, but apparently the fans mean nothing to the big blokes at Nein
oikee
Guest
Looking forward to seeing Petro still involved with Rugby league. From 2006 when they told him and Steve Price they were too old and slow, he really stood up to be counted. Fantastic and yes, should have been a one club man. With the retirement of Lockyer and now Petro, the Broncos really need to be searching for a couple of superstars to replace these players. This team has always had the superstars of the game. It is time to throw this make beleive salary cap in the bin and allow Brisbane Broncos to once again become the force it is meant to be, it is there destiny. The game has to stop trying to kill off these huge powerhiouse clubs, let them be, let them breath, your killing them.
Roarsome
Guest
It's funny how last night the NRL Footy Show glorified the 4 one club men who are retiring at the end of the season. What went wrong there? Joel Clinton, seriously! I hope someone lost their job for selling Petro and buying Joel. If salary cap was the issue, then surely this example alone is reason for change. It's such a shame that Petro can't be a one club man. Is he the most successful Origin forward in history? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.