Arthur Beetson
Petero Civoniceva might have developed into an Arthur Beetson style of ball-playing forward if he had not put so much emphasis on getting his ‘go-forward’ game to an elite level.
On his return to the Broncos after four seasons with Penrith, Civoniceva said unloading the ball in a tackle was always an ability he possessed.
“It could have been a key asset to our team,” he said. “If you can pass and get second phase it’s a good weapon and no-one was better at it than Artier (Beetson).
“But my focus (at the Broncos) was on trying to get the best go-forward possible, because at the Broncos (in the 1990s) we had such an amazing backline. That was our role as a pack. It was probably my own fault I didn’t expand my game more. I know I had the capabilities, but for me it was more wanting to learn from the guys like Shane Webcke and Andrew Gee, and to emulate them.”
As a Redcliffe junior Civoniceva had a reputation for being able to off-load in any situation. Teammates would follow him around the park, with Beetson’s son, Mark one of the most enthusiastic support players.
Civoniceva shared his thoughts at Broncos’ training just a few days after Arthur Beetson died of a heart attack aged 66.
“Artie had this amazing aura about him,” Civoniceva said. “I hadn’t experienced anything like it. Wayne Bennett has it and so does Mal Meninga. Arthur always took a genuine interest in how I was going.”
Petero said he was happy to be ‘home’.
“But going to Penrith gave me an opportunity to grow as a person,” he told me for his chapter in the book Bennett’s Broncos, which I wrote in 2013. “I was handed the captaincy and growing up I never thought I would captain a team, never mind an NRL team. Those four years were a real learning experience.”
While Petero was back where he belonged – at the Broncos – a youngster who had trained with the club in the early part of the pre-season packed his bags and drove to Sydney to sign a two year deal with Souths. Josh Starling, 21, was the Queensland Cup Carbine Club Colt of the Year in 2011 after his efforts for Tweed Heads Seagulls. Originally from Wollongong, Starling – who played under-20s for Souths – told the Broncos he was homesick.
Souths’ front row stocks had been hit by the retirement of Luke Stuart and the return to Cronulla of former Queensland State of Origjn prop, Ben Ross. But there were also opportunities at the Broncos for Starling following the retirement of Shane Tronc and Nick Kenny.
Manly cult hero, George Rose, 28, re-signed with the Premiers for a further two years.
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