Who’s Who of 22, Sport: Petero Civoniceva

Published 2:00am 1 December 2022

Rugby League legend, and one of the nicest blokes to play the game, Petero Civoniceva has done his bit to develop the sport in Fiji in 2022 while continuing to support his Redcliffe peninsula community.

Civoniceva, who was born in Suva, moved to Redcliffe as an infant and honed his natural athletic ability as a Redcliffe Dolphins junior.

An illustrious playing career followed at Queensland Cup, NRL, State of Origin and international level.

Throughout, he always made time for young fans and he remains passionate about developing young talent here and overseas.

Civoniceva is Chairman of the Kaiviti Silktails rugby league club in Fiji, which aims to provide development pathway opportunities for Fiji’s best local talent.

The club had its first full season in the New South Wales Rugby League’s Ron Massey Cup competition in 2022, finishing sixth.

Civoniceva continues to have NRL and QRL ambassador roles, and is involved in the Deadly Choices program and the Moreton Bay Region community.

About Petero Civoniceva

Civoniceva was born in Suva and moved to the Redcliffe peninsula with his family when he was about six months old.

His playing career started with the Redcliffe Dolphins as a junior before he progressed to Queensland Cup. He is Dolphin No.432.

He emerged with the Brisbane Broncos in 1998, the season the club won its third premiership, and was also part of title-winning teams in 2000, when he missed the Grand Final due to injury, and 2006.

For 10 seasons, from 1998, his sole senior club was the Brisbane Broncos.

He played for the Penrith Panthers from 2008-2011, before returning to Brisbane in 2012 and calling time on his NRL career at the end of the season.

Civoniceva returned to the Redcliffe Dolphins for one last season in 2013, when he joined the Queensland Cup side.

He was regarded as a tough but fair sportsman on the field and ambassador for the game off it.

Between 2001 and 2014, Civoniceva played 401 first-class games including 33 State of Origin matches, 45 Tests for Australia and six Tests for Fiji.

The Queensland Rugby League’s Hostplus Cup best and fairest player each year receives the Petero Civoniceva Medal – a testament to his character and his legacy in the game.

The father of four is married to Bonnie whom he met during their time at Frawley College. They call the Redcliffe peninsula home.